DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
DURHAM, N. C. 


THE 
SUBSTANCE 
an f sa) 


FUNERAL DISCOURSE, 


‘DELIVERED AT THE REQUEST, : a 


OF 
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 
on ‘ 
Tuesday, the 23d of April, 1816, 
IN 


ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH, 


PHILADELPHIA < 
ON THE 


DEATH 


OF THE 


REV. FRANCIS ASBURY, 


SUPERINTENDENT, OR SENIOR BISHOP, 
OF 
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 


NOW ENLARGED. 


BY EZEKIEL COOPER, 
PRESHYTER OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 


ry 5 
13497 
PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED BY JONATHAN POUNDER, NO. 0. 134, 
North 4th street, opposite St. George’s Church. 
1819. 


Eastern’ District of Pennsylvania, to wit = wt 

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the tenth day of © 
April, in the forty-third year of the Independence of the — 
United States of America, A, D. 1819. Jonathan Pounder 
of the said District, hath deposited in this office the Title 


of a book the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in 
the words following, to wit: dias 


« The substance of a Funeral Discourse, Delivered at 
‘the Request of the Annual Conference, on fuesday, — 
. “the 23d of April, 1819, in St. George’s Church, Phila- | 
“delphia: on the Death of the Rev. Francis Asbury, 
‘Superintendent, or Senior Bishop, of the Methodist 
** Episcopal Church: now Enlarged. By Ezekiel Cooper, 

‘© Presbyter of the Methodist Episcopal Church.” 


In Conformity to the act of the Congress of the United ~ 
States, intitled, “An Actfor the encouragementof learn- — 
ing, by securing the copies ot maps, charts, and books, — 
to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during 
the times therein mentioned.” And also to the act, en- — 
titled, ‘‘ An Act supplementary to on act, entitled, * An — 
Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the 
copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and 
proprietors of such copies during the times therein men- 
tioned,” and extending the benefits thereof to the arts 
of desizning, engraving, and etching historical and other 

rints,” 

. D. CALDWELL, 
Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 


F 
. 
— 


i 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

THE original Discourse, of which the fol- 
lowing contains the substance, was delivered 
extemporaneously, by the special request of the 
Philadelphia Annual Conference, of the Me- 
thodist Episcopal Church. At that time, there 
was no eapectation of its publication; but, after 
it was delivered, the Conference requested the 
author, to commit it to writing, and to supply 
a copy for publication: in compliance wit 
that request, the author wrote it down; and 
endeavoured, to the best of his memory and re- 

‘ collection, to give the substance truly and fully. 

It is not to be expected that an extemporary 
discourse could be written exactly as it was 
delivered; so that, although, in substance it 
may be the same; yet, in some respects, as to 
the mode, and manner, of expatiating upon, 
and illustrating, some points, and details, there 
may appear to be some difference. Indeed, it 

could not bereasonably eacpected otherwise; for, 
in the nature of things, it was impossible for 
the author, to write it verbatim, as he deliv- 
ered it from the pulpit. He never pretended 
to any thing more, than to be able to give 
the substance; and nothing more was expected. 

Sundry circumstances, and considerations, — 
not necessary here to detail, have occasioned a 
long delay in the publication: and indeed, for 
some considerable time, thz author very seri- 
ously fesitated, whether he would supply a 
copy for publication at all: He had rolled up 
the Manuscript, and laid it by, among some 
other papers, 73 Ge will necer come 

ZOtTR 
‘ovo 


. aR ad. arte i eee 
ADVERTISEMENT. a 


to public view. However, having been repeat- 
edly solicited, and pressingly advised, by sun- 
dry persons who heard it delivered, to let it be 
published; he has, at length, upon mature de- 
liberation, and counsel with several preachers 
and private members, thought it adviseable to 
yield to the advise and solicitation of his friends; 
and, he has, accordingly, consented, to supply 
a copy for publication. 

The author, had contemplated, if the dis- 
course should ever appear inprint, to have pub- 
lished with it, sundry notes, or an appendix— 
by way of further illustration, explanation, 
or enlargement; however, he has been advised 
to incorporate the notes, with, and in, the body 
of the discoure, wherever they were connected 
with their correspondent parts respectively; 
that the reader might not be taken off, from the 
continuity of the discourse, by references to the 
notes. On deliberate reflection, this course is 
thought to be adviseable; therefore, the author 
has adopted it, and wnited a part of the notes 
with the regular continuity of the discourse. 
This circumstance, has made a considerable .en- 
largenvent: however the original discourse, was 
so long, that it took one hour and a haif to de- 
liver it from the pulpit. 

The author has nothing more to say, than, 
such as it is,he submits it to the public, most sin- 
cerely praying, that it may be useful. The Lord 
bless us all, with grace, mercy, and salvation, 
through Jesus Christ, our adorable Redeemer: 
so prays the AUTHOR. 


THE SUBSTANCE 


OF A 


FUNERAL DISCOURSE, ke. 


2 Tim. iii. Chap. 10. ver. But thou hast 
fully known my doctrine, manner of life, — 
purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, pa- 
tience. 


BRETHREN, on what impressive and affect- 
ing occasion, have we, with such apparent 
solemnity, now assembled? Every counte- 
nance is indicative of sadness and gloom !— 
Every aspect, every appearance around me, 
portends a day of distress, affliction, and 
mourning!—Under what unusual excitement, — 
has so very large a concourse of friends and 
citizens, been induced, on a day of worldly bu- 
siness, to leave their various secular occupa- 
tions, worldly professions, and pecuniary pur- 
suits; and, with such apparent concern of 
mind, to assemble at the temple of the Lord, 
now turned into the house of mourning?* 


*It was supposed, that in, and round the church, there 
were from three to four — people Pub 


Surely, some extraordinary and eventful 
occurrence has taken place, to produce so re- 
markable an excitement upon the public 
mind; its nature and circumstances, must 
be unusually affecting, to have such an in- 
fluence, as now appears, upon the feelings of | 
the community—The pensive appearance, 
the sorrowful countenances, the great solem- 
nity, and the appendages of mourning, on 
every hand, ‘bespeak aloud, some sad intel- 
ligence ; or the occurrence of some adverse 
and painful event, giving poignant grief, and 
keen affliction; piercing the hearts, smi- 
ting: and. wounding the tender sensibility of 
our afflicted Israel, with sorrow and sighing 
—I almost tremble, and am ready to falter, 
in coming at the point, to announce the 
woful tale of sorrow!—But I presume, the 
sad intelligence, the mournful occasion is 
well known to you all! Asbury ts dead / 

I am called on, by the special request of 
the conference, to perform an arduous and a 
painful task, as the organ through which the 
mournful tidings, and sorrowful intelligence 
of the death of Bishop Asbury, is, this day, 
to be publicly announced, and a funeral ora- 
tion to be delivered, on the occasion, to this 
pensive assembly, this crowded concourse of 
people!—At the very threshold ofthis distres- 
sing and embarrassing duty, I am so oppres- 
sed and bowed down, and my sensibility so 


much affected, that Iam not able, even were 
I disposed, to conceal the impression, which 
the occasion makes -upon my full and throb-« 
‘bing heart !—If ardent affection for a depart- 
ed friend, and a sincere attachment to a 
lamented father; combined with a deep con- 
cern for the cause of religion, and united 
with an association of affecting ideas, and 
heart melting contemplations; arising from. 
the recollection of what is past, from a 
knowledge of what is present, and from a 
consideration of what is to come ; should, so 
far excite and influence my sensibility, as to 
obstruct, in some degree, my articulation; 
_ or, even at intervals, to cause me to falter, 
and in silence and tears to weep—I hope, 
that the occasion, will be an ample justifica- 
tion, and that no apology will be thought 
necessary-to excuse the weakness. Nay, you 
anticipate me—I see, from your tears, that 
our united hearts, in unison, swell with ful- 
ness of emotion, and are almost ready to 
overflow, and break forth into floods of 
mutual sorrow and lamentation! Ah, my 
brethren! upon an occasion like the present, » 
it is compatible with humanity and chris- 
tianity, with sound heads and good hearts, to 
weep with those that weep ! Even Jesus wept, 
when his friend died—Behold, how he loved 
him! — 

We are now, about to pay the last sad of- 


4 


fice, of duty and respect, to the memory of a 
great ae who has fallen in Israel!—A fa-- 
ther in Israel is dead! Bishop Asbury is 
no more! He sleeps in the dust of the val- 
ley! When living, he was greatly beloved, 
and universally esteemed ;—now dead, he is 
as greatly, and as universally lamented ! His 
distinguished name, his excellent character, 
and pious memory, will be spoken of in all 
the churches, and be held in venerable admi- 
ration and everlasting remembrance. 

The pulpit, is a place, from whence, we 
have been in the habit of proclaiming, glad 
tidings of great joy, to listening multitudes ; 
and from whence, you have been accustom-. 
ed to hear, good news, to rejoice the heart 
and delight the soul—But now, alas! I am 

_ the messenger of grief; to announce sorrow- 
ful tidings, sad intelligence, and mournful 
news; which, for a season, dispels our joys, 
and turns our gladness into sorrow and | 
mourning. This day, instead of being the 
herald of good news, and bringer of glad 
tidings ; I am the bearer of sad information ; 

~ which, covers the church with the mantle of 
sorrow, and causes the thousands of our 

Israel to mourn, and to set down in grief, as 

it were, by the rivers of Babylon, and to 
hang their harps upon the willows, and with 
lamentation to weep, while they think of 

Zion! Why, alas! is the pulpit, the desk, 


5 


the chandelier, the congregation, the preach= 
ers, and the people, so clad with funeral 
emblems? Our full hearts respond to the 
question. Bishop Asbury is no more ! 
What means this vesture of black, this 
mournful shroud, around me, that covers 
the pulpit where I stand? Why is the sacred. 
desk, so clothed with the sable mantle of. 
grief and mourning? Is it an indication that 
the pastoral voice of our shepherd and bishop, 
which used to echo the joyful sound of gos- 
pel grace with so much delight, and useful 
instruction, is now hushed. and silenced in 
death; and is to be heard from hence no 
more? And that the venerable man, now 
sleeping in the grave, shall no more be seen 
in person, to grace the sanctuary, to pro- 
claim salvation, and to instruct the congre= 
gation of God’s people in this church? Is he 
no more to go in and out before us?’And 
also, why is that chandelier, from whence 
the lighted candles, usually, illuminate the 
church, now covered with a dark veil? Is it 
emblematical? Is it appropriated to the oc- 
casion? doth it, on reflection, suggest this 
intimation to the mind, that a great and 
- shining light, in the church of God, is now 
extinguished? and no more to let his light 
shine before men, that others may see his 
good works? He was.as alight to the world; 
not put under a bushel, but on the candle- 
A2 


6 


stick, to give light to all within the house. 
But, the lamp of life is burnt out; he burns, 
he shines no more ; excepting it be in the 
remembrance of his bright examples, and 
his illustrious doctrines. And wherefore is 
it, that the house of God, the place of pray- 
er, of praise, of rejoicing, and gladness; is 
now so clothed in the apparel of sadness and 
gloom, and clad with the badges of deep 
mourning and sorrow? I look around, and 
survey this crowded assembly, and, with in- 
expressible emotions, I behold an unusual 
appearance, and uncommonly affecting in its 
aspect—tears and silence, give an unuttera- 
ble expression, speaking louder, and more 
emphatically heard and felt, to the sensibili- 
ty of the heart, than words can utter—No 
pathetic strains of human language, no arti- 
ficial flowers of pensive rhetorick, can speak, 
to the feelings of the heart, like the deep 
touches of sorrow and distress, engraven in 
your pensive countenances, over which, the 
falling tears are rolling down; or, like crystal 
drops, quivering on the eyelids, and then trick- 
ling down so many faces—This expressive 
aspect, this impressive tone, discoverable 
throughout this great concourse of people, 
laudibly proclaim to every sympathetic ob- 
server), that there is, truly, and verily, a 
noted difference between an observance of 
mere ceremonious formality, and a solemnity 


7 


of veal and spontaneous feeling. Are you 
melted into sympathy? Your mourning 
looks proclaim it; your flowing tears at- 
test it. What doth allthismean? The sighs, 
the groans,the weeping eyes,the flowing tears, 
the deep concern depicted in your sorrow- 
ful countenances; all are impressive expres- 
sions, giving evidence of sympathetic sensibi- 
lity, and melting emotions of sorrow and grief. 
Truly, we have met with an afflictive dis- 
pensation of adversity, in one of the most 
distressing and trying occurrences, that has 
ever befallen the Methodist Episcopal church 
in America; and, probably, under all the 
peculiarities and circumstances of the case, 
the like never will, perhaps, never can befall 
us again! Public notification, has already 
announced, that, at this time, a funeral dis- 
‘course, is to be delivered, upon the occasion 
of the death, of our much beloved, and great- 
ly lamented, father in the gospel, Francis 
Asbury, senior bishop of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. Alas! what did I say? 
The death of Francis Asbury! And is it 
so, that bishop Asbury is dead? Yes, my 
brethren, the stroke of death is given ; the - 
sad tidings are confirmed; stern necessity 
compels us, at last, to say, though with 
tears, that Asbury is no more! The great, 
the good, the wise, the laborious, the useful 
and the beloved bishop Asbury is dead !— 


His labours, his. afflictions, and his suffer- 
ings are over! He has paid the last sad debt 
of nature; all tears are wiped from his eyes; 
he will labour and suffer no more ; he rests 
from his labour, and his works will follow 
him! Our father, our bishop, and friend, 
will visit us no more! He will not return to 
us, but we shall follow him. 

This mournful pulpit, where I now starid, 
has often sustained his venerable form; while 
proclaiming to you, and listening multitudes, 
the unsearchable riches and treasures of 
grace!—His expresssive looks, his heavenly 
countenance, his melodious, full toned 
voice, his silvered gray locks, encircling his 
venerable brow, his zealous labors, his 
wholesome instructions, and pious counsels: 
are all, at this moment, represented to our 
view, and lively recollection. The imagina~ 
tion can portray, and almost realize, the 
picture of his actual presence before our 
eyes, and the echo of his voice, as if sound- 
ing in our ears!—But alas! we shall see his 
face no more! we shall never hear his voi 
again! The messenger death}hath clostil the 
scene! Weneed not marvel that the church 
should be clad in deep mourning; the con- 
gregation be overwhelmed with sadness ; 
the preachers be bathed in tears; and the 
people to sit in sorrow and sighing! De- 
parted worth, demands the tribute of a tear ; 


Pi 


‘the mémory of the pious dead calls forth the 
effusions of respectful sympathy, among sur- 
viving friends! We are at the house of 
mourning! 

What am I about? On what strange topic 
‘is this I am dwelling? Iam almost ready 
to pause! And under the influence of some 
strange emotions, to recoil at the idea of 
what I have stated; and with an impulse of 
surprise, and incredulous doubt, to ask, Are 
we not dreaming? Is it a reality? or, can it 
be so? that bishop Asbury, is certainly 
dead? Alas! O, that we were but autho- 
rised to countermand the report! If, perad- 
venture, it were but God’s good pleasure, 
for his own glory, the good of the church, 
and the benefit of the world, how would we 
rejoice,- abundantly, in being able to pro- 
nounce that our Asbury yet lived! But, the 
die is cast, the seal is fixed; it is a sad reali- 
ty; it is no fancy or imagination ; inflexible 
truth pronounces He is dead!—Nay, not dead, 
but he sleepeth—he has fallen asleep in the 
arms ofhis Saviour. He that liveth and be- 
lieweth in me, (said Christ) though he were 
dead, yet shall he live ; and he that liveth and 
believeth in me shall never die. Hence, we 
may say, though he be dead, yet he liveth, 
and is alive forevermore. He liveth in the 
remembrance and affectionate esteem of his 
brethren; and will live forever, with his God, 
among the glorified spirits made holy and 


10 


perfect in redeeming love! The animal life 
is extinct; the organs of corporeal sense, are 
locked up in the silence of death; the mor- 
tal body, for a season, is consigned to the 
tomb, to sleep with composure, in the solita- 
ry slumbers of mortality; there, quietly to 
rest, in its original dust of the earth, the 
house, and the bed, appointed for all living, 
till the morning of the resurrection—Then, 
the triumphant spirit shall come, and put it 
on afresh! ‘Till then, the departed spirit, in 
its immortal state, of separate and conscious 
existence, lives with its God, in the enjoy- 
ment of uninterrupted, and supernal felici- 
ty!—And, when the last trumpet shall sound, 
Arise ye dead, and come to judgment! the 
sleeping dust shall awake, arise, and come 
forth, all immortal, to everlasting life! All 
that are in their graves, shall hear the woice 
of the Son of God, and come forth; they that 
have done good, to the resurrection of life, and 
they that have done evil, to the resurrection of 
condemnation. 

“ If aman die, shall he live again?” Yes, 
my brethren; then let us not sorrow, as with- 
out hope. When the night of death hath 
passed away, and the glorious morning shall 
usher in; then, our departed friend, with the 
thousands of Israel, shall rise slag, hin 
at the sound of the trumpet, shouting and 
exclaiming, O death! where is thy sting 2 O 


11 


grave! where is thy victory? Thanks be to 
God, who giveth us the victory, through our 
Lord Jesus Christ! In a moment, in the 
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; the 
dead shall be raised incorruptible—for this cor- 
ruptible, must put on incorruption, and this 
mortal, must put on immortality ; and death be 
swallowed up in victory. Hail! that happy 
day! When the eternal Judge, of quick and. 
dead, shall call the sanctified, who have 
washed their robes white, inthe blood of the 
Lamb, to receive their complete and full 
reward ; then, we hope to see our departed 
friend again, all resplendant, going forth to 
meet the adorable Saviour, and to be forever 
with the Lord. Then, the Judge of all the 
earth, will say to him, and to every holy 
sanctified child of God, Well done, good and 
faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy. 
Lord! O, that we, who have known and 
lived with him here, may reign and dwell 
with him there! Then, we shall no more be 
parted forever. Neither sorrow, nor sigh- 
ing, nor affliction, nor death, can enter that 
heavenly place. All tears, shall be wiped 
away from their eyes; and there shall be 
weeping no more. “The ransomed of the 
Lord shall return, and come to Zion with 
songs and everlasting joys upon their heads; 
to obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and 
sighing shall flee away.” “I would not have 
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning 


« 


12 


them which are asleep, that ye sorrow no 
even ag others, which have no hope. Fori 
we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, 
even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will 
God bring with him. For the Lord himself 
shall descend from heayen with a shout, 
with the voice of the archangel, and with 
the trump of God: and the dead in Christ 
shall rise first. Then we which are alive, 
and remain, shall be caught up together with 
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the 
air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord: 
wherefore, comfort one another with these 
words.” 

When the conference requested me to 
deliver a sermon on the present occasion, I 
was, for some time, at a stand, to determine 
what passage of scripture to select, as most 
appropriate and suitable for a text on the 
important and melancholy occasion of the 
bishop’s death. Various apt and interesting — 
passages, both in the Old and Wew Testa- 
ment, have been in succession presented to 
my mind—lI felt inclined not to take one, 
which had been usually taken, either on 
special or ordinary occasions; and to select 
a passage particularly applicable to the case 
and character, of the venerable and remark- 
able man, under consideration. After as 
mature deliberation, reflection, and exami- 
nation, as the short time allotted me would — 
admit of, I have given the preference to that, 


’ 4 


13 ; 


which I have read unto you. « I cannot cali 
to mind any passage of scripture, which, to 
me, appears more directly in point, as ap- 
plicable to the truly evangelical doctrine 
and the apostolic manner of life, and admi- 
rable christian character, of that venerable 
and wonderful man, bishop Asbury ; nor one 
more suitable, as an impressive subject, on 
the minds and recollections of his mourning 
ministerial brethren, and his weeping pas- 
toral charge; whom he has left, in tears, to 
remember, to believe, and to follow his 
doctrine ; and diligently, and perseveringly, 
to imitate and follow his pious example, and. 
holy manner of life, in purpose, faith, long- 
suffering, charity, patience: Perhaps there is 
no text more suitable for the occasion. And 
E am almost persuaded, that if the departed, 
disembodied, happy spirit, were now hover- 
ing over.us, and could be consulted, and 
were permitted to speak, and to communi- 
cate with us, on the occasion, that there are 
few, if any passages, which he would more 
cordially approve, as a text for his funeral 
discourse. 

Being dead, he yet speaketh to our memo- 
ry, and to our recollection, in language. like 
the text. Our feeling hearts vibrate, at the 
recollected accents. of his tongue, the empha- 
tic energy of his diction, and the still more 
forcible language of his well remembered 

to B 


14 


examples. We have heard and read, of the 
voice of the dead to the living—And, per- 
haps, there is a greater intimacy, a more 
frequent intercourse, and a nearer connexion, 
between departed spirits, and the living, 
than many are willing to admit— Why should 
it be thought a thing incredible, that God 
should even raise the dead? and why not, 
permit departed spirits, on certain occasions, 
to-communicate with the living? The spirit 
that appeared to John, in the Revelation, 
said untohim, “ I am thy FELLOW SERVANT, 
and of THY BRETHREN, that have the tesli-~ 
mony of Jesus”—and again, “ I am thy re.- 
LOW SERVANT, and of THY BRETHREN THE 
PROPHETS, and of them which keep the sayings 
of this book: In the case, when our Lord took 
Peter, James, and John, into a high moun- 
tain, and was transfigured before them—JBe- 
hold, there APPEARED UNTO THEM, Moses and 
Elias, talking with him: they saw his glory, 
and THE Two MEN that stood with him. A 
bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice 
came out of the cloud,“ Thisis my beloved Son, 
in whom I am well pleased:”——And the disci- 
ples heard it, fell on their face, and were sore 
afraid—And suddenly—they saw no man any 
MORE, save Jesus with themselves.—Hark !— ~ 
In solemn silence pause!—Methinks,I almost 
hear his voice whisper, to every kindred spirit, 
to every mind that knew him, to every heart 


45 


that loved him, “ Follow me, as I followed 
Christ.” Thou hast fully known my doctrine, 
manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, 
charity, patience—May it sink deep, in every 
heart!—remain long, in every mind!—and rest 
with weight upon the soul of every minister 
and member of the church! 
Holy men of old, spake as they were moved 
by the Holy Ghost. In their writings, we have 
doctrines, precepts, reproofs, corrections, and 
instructions, in righteousness; as a complete 
and all sufficient rule, both of our faith and 
practice, to direct and guard us, perfectly, 
with God’s blessing, against false doctrines, 
wrong practices, and evil workers—And 
they, being dead, yet speak to us in the sacred 
book—And may it not also be said, of other 
eminent and distinguished men of God, 
whose works praise them in the gates of 
Zion, whose apostolic doctrines, and holy 
manner of life, whose arduous labours and 
distinguished usefulness, have left behind 
them, standing memorials, and indisputable 
testimonials of their excellence and worth in 
the world; and so long as the fruits and 
effects of their useful lives and labours stand, 
as a living monument, that mankind has 
been made wiser, and better, and happier; 
and the world has been benefitted, by their 
studies, their researches, their labours, and 
their manner of life; may it not be said, truly 
and verily, that though dead, they continue to 


— 


16 


speak to us, and their yoice is heard in the 
world? The exemplary and instructive voice: 
the dead to the living, very often, is receiy 


with more weight, more respect, and more au- — 
thority, than the same warning, or counsel, or 


instruction, would be, from the living. The si- 
lent remembrance of departed worth, the re- 
collected examples of the pious dead, the wise 
counsels, and good advise, of friends, whoare 


no more; come home to, our feelings, with — 


more energy; speak louder, and with more 
impressive jinfluence, to the sensibility of 
the soul, than the vocal precepts and _in- 
structions of the living. k 

In life, it is admitted, that example speaks 
louder than precept; but when death, strikes 
the fatal blow, and cuts down our dearest 
friends; it gives a more emphatic tone, to 
their recollected sentiments and counsels; 
and a more impressive energy, to their re- 
membered examples. O death! with what 
gigantic force, with what majestic power, 
doth it strike the most dormant passion of 
the soul, rouse the most latent sensibility of 
the mind, and kindle up the remotest sparks 
of sympathetic tenderness and affection! The 
feelings of the heart are excited imto action, 
and melted into softness, or throbbing grief 
and anguish, at beholding a beloved friend, 
bidding this world, and us, a final farewell; 
and groaning out his last expiring breath, 


ee: 


wa 


as hesinks a lifeless corpse, in the cold arms 
of death! Then how we review and call to 
mind, with new emotions, with strange sen~ 
sations, the past occurrances of his life! His 
instructive words, his pleasing actions, his 
amiable deportment, his good examples, and 
every thing worthy and useful in his life, is 
called to mind with double effect, upon the 
feelings ofthe heart. Every excellence, ap- 
preciates to anadditional value; so that it is 
sometimes said, We never knew their value 
and full worth; nor how much we loved 
them, until they were taken fromus. Will 
not this, in some measure, apply, in the case 
before us? Doth not the manner of life, and 
the many excellencies of our brother Asbury, 
speak to our memories, our reason, our af- 
fections, and to our consciousness, with re- 
newed energy, and appreciated value? While 
touching on this feeling subject, I, again, 
almost imagine, that his venerable portraiture 
is in full view before me : as in a perspective 
vision, I behold, as it were, his person, his 
countenance, his snow-white hair, and his di- 
versity of deportment, in all the vicissitudes 
of his fluctuating and useful life. I almost 
fancy, that the echo of his voice, is sounding 
in our ears; and that his kindred spirit, as a 
guardian angel, is hovering over us, waving 
his wings, and saying, in gentle whispers; 
“Ye have fully known my doctrine, manner 


B 2 


. et, Sian See 
¢ . 


of life, purpose, faith, ae ng-sui 
patience.” 

He always manifecaan Perici attach- 
ment, to the directions, instructions, 
junctions, given by St. Paul, to Tim 
Titus ; as being directly connected with, and 
applicable to, the ministerial offices and du- 
ties, in the church of Christ ; and, as depen- 
dant on which, and a faithful discharge of 
the same, existed, in a great degree, the im- 
portant and essential interests of ‘religion, in 
the house of God. In his episcopal and pas- 
toral charges and addresses, how frequently 
did he adopt the sentiments and language, of 
St. Paul, particularly, to Timothy and Titus; 
relative to the office and work of the minis- 
try: in teaching, governing, and leading the 
flock of Christ, in the paths of piety, and the 
ways of cdheeearmas ? 

The Motto, on his official Episcopal ‘Seal, 
with which he executed the Credentials, or 
Letters of orders, for those whom he ordain- 
ed, and set apart to the work of the ministry, 


‘m the church of God, was selected from the 


aposties charge to T imothy ; which was, 
“ SruDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UN- 

To Gop :’—that always, on looking over, 
or reviewing their parchment, or Letters of 
ordination, and on seeing his hand and seal of 
Episcopal authority, they might have before 
their eyes, the charge and injunction, as a 


“ 


+2 


Menento, to stir gitar minds, by way of 


remembrance, to a fresh and lively recollec= 
tion of their duty, their obligations, and their’ 
promise ; and to a solemn and serious reflec- 
tion, upon their accountability, and responsi- 
bility, to God; im the great eternal day: 
as those, who must give an account, for the 
faithful discharge and performance of the 
sacred duties and trusts, committed to their 
care. How great, and how awful, the charge, 
the responsibility, and the accountability ! 

The words of our text, he sometimes ex- 
patiated on, and improved and applied it, to 
ministers and people, as an excellent remem- 
brancer, to put them in mind, of the Aposto- 
lic doctrine, and-manner of life, as an exam- 
ple for us, as ministers and christians to fol- 
low; as in duty bound, we ought, most care- 
fully and diligently to observe. 

In the primitive days of christianity, the 
“Apostle saw that false doctrines, and. evil 
workers, would creep into the church; and 
that the mystery of miquity had already be- 
gan to work: therefore, to put Timothy, and 
the church, on their guard, against those evil 
ehiratters: and enemies to thetruth of sound 
doctrine ; and to fortify them, against inno- 
vators, who would endeavour to bring in 
condemnable heresies, turning the-grace of | 
God into lascivious sness, he proposes an an- 


* tidote against their poison ; and recommends 


20 


to Timothy, a firm, constant, and vigilant, 
adherence to the doctrines of the gospel of 
Christ; which he, both held and preached | 
among them; and which, Timothy, had so | 
fully known. He enjoins a careful imitation 
and following of that example, of piety and | 
holiness, so fully known, and exemplified, in 
his own manner of life, purpose, faith, long- 
suffering, charity, patience. He also enjoins, a 
steadfast adherence to the holy scriptures, 
which he had known from a child; and 
which were, able to make him wise to salva- 
tion, through faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ: 
“ All scripture, given by inspiration of God, 
and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
correction, for instruction in righteousness ; 
that the man of God may be perfected, tho- 
roughly furnished unto all good works.” , 
Thus the apostle, sets up a standard, and 
states a criterion, and lays down a rule, by — 
which, we may try, test, and prove, all doc- 
trines, and manner of life. —“* To the law, and 
to the testimony ; if they speak not accord- 
ing to this word, it is because there is no 
light in them.” . 
Whether we consider the words of our 
text, as the apostle’s, originally addressed to 
Timothy, to the church, and to successive 
gencrations ; or as the adopted language of 
our late Bishop, in appropriate fitness, and 
suitable application, as addressed to us,, | 


21 


they are, in either case, for our instruction, 
and as a remembrancer. In them, we hear 
the voice, and the address, of the dead to the 
living. When we think of our departed bro- 
ther, let us callto mind the language of the 
text ; and when we hear, or recollect these 
words, let us remember the doctrme, the pi- 
ous example, and holy manner of life, to which 
they refer; and let us steadfastly adhere 
to the one, and diligently follow the other. 
Thou hast fully known—Probably, Timo- 
thy, had not a more intimate knowledge of 
Paul, than we have had of Asbury. We have 
known him as our father, preceptor, leader, 
and guide, inthe kingdom and patience of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. We have known him 
long, even from youth to old age. We have 
known him as aman, as achristian, as a citi- 
‘zen, as a minister of the gospel, and asa gene- 
ral superintendant, or bishop, in the church of 
God. We have known him in public and in 
private ; among friends and among enemies ; 
in prosperity and adversity ; generally and 
particularly ; intimately and thoroughly ; or 
fully known him. The relative situation in 
which he stood connected with the church ; 
and the circumstances and manner of his 
life ; exposed him, continually, to public or 
private observation and inspection, and. sub- 
jected him to a constant and critical review ; 
and that from day to day, and from year to 
year. 


Wie od ig me —_— 
co : 
7 


22 


Through the United States, and every 
State in the Union, from east to west, and. 
from north to south; hundreds of thousands, 
have had their eyes upon him, their ears 
open to him, their tongues speaking of him, 
and their heads and hearts, their opinions 
and sentiments, their partialities and preju- 
dices, their passions and affections, various~ 
y employed and exercised about him. But 

ew, very few, have been so generally known, 

both personally and_ characteristically. 
What more perfect knowledge, could we pos-— 
sibly have of any man, than we have had of 
him? In all his various and extensive 
movements, through all his complicated and 
multiplied concerns; we have known him to 
be critically imspected, carefully watched, 
closely examined, thoroughly tested, and 
completely proved and tried: like gold or 
silver, seven times tried in the fire. Some- 
times we have known him, as in the fires of 
strife, of envy, suspicion, and jealousy, like 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in Ne- 
buchadnezzar’s fiery furnace; and yet, un- 
hurt, in the midst of the flame. Or, like 
Daniel, in the lions’ den; preserved in safety, 
in the midst of danger: when the beasts of 
the people, and the devil, like roaring lions, 
were seeking his destruction; and whomso- 
ever else they might destroy. But that God, 
whom he believed, and loved, and served ; 


23 


that God, “who quenched the violence of 
fire, and stopped the mouths of lions,” took 
care of his servant “until the calamities 
were overpast:” for hissoul trusted in him; 
yea, under the shadow of the Almighty 
wings did he make his refuge. ‘“ He that 
dwelleth in the secret place of the Most 
High, shall abide under the shadow of the 
Almighty. He shall cover thee with his fea- 
thers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: 
his truth shall be thy shield and’ buckler. 
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by 
night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; 
nor for the pestilence that walketh in dark- 
ness ; nor for the destruction that.wasteth at 
noon-day. Thou shalt tread upon the lion 
and the adder, or asp: the young lion and 
the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew 
him my salvation.” 

We have known him—to be, the man of 
probity, integrity, fidelity, and punctuality ; 
of truth, justice, mercy and benevolence ; 
the christian, of strong faith, great watchful- 
ness, importunate in prayer, deep humility, 
much patience, and of devout and holy liv- 
ing; the minister of unwearied diligence, 
indefatigable labours, incessant cares, and 
constant solicitude; for the prosperity of Zi- 
on, the success of the gospel, and the salva- 
tion of the people: In doctrine, sound, scrip- 


24 


tural, and evangelical; in labours abundant, 
faithful, and useful: As ‘bich op, or superin- 
tendant, remarkably qualified for his station 
and office, and unusually diligent, persever- 
ing, and faithful, in his: unwearied applica- 
tions, to the abundant and complicated du- 
ties and labours of his official . station: 
throughout all his vastly extended diocess, 
and arduous pastoral charge. He was loved, 

respected, esteemed, admired, and feared, 

with filial reverence, both by ‘the ministers. 
and people. He was accounted worthy of 
double honor, for his work’s sake, as one 
that ruled well, and laboured especially in the — 
word and doctrine. 

His episcopal charges, official directions, 
and constitutional appointments and orders, 
in general, were punctually observed, and 
respectfully, willingly, and cheerfully obey- 
ed. Very few, either primitive or modern, 
ever knew, or acquired the art, better than 
he, of obtaining, excercising and supporting, 
the pastoral and episcopal influence and au- 
thority ; and of using it, with so much digni- 
ty, respectability, usefulness, and approba- 
tion. He had a particular qualification for 
governing; his peculiar temperature of mind 
and spirit, his dignified manner of conversa- 
tion and deportment, his stern reserve, tem- 
pered by a social freedom, his authoritative 
decisions, softened down by gentle sooth- 


a ee 


meme S 


: ings,and his apparent inflexibility and inde- 


pendent opinion, placidly yielding to rea- 
sonable and amicable accommodations ; car- 
ried with them an impressive, and almost ir- 
resistable influence; and gave him a kind of 
patriarchal ascendency and superiority. And 
which, had a powerful tendency to inspire 
others with filial reverence, and profound 
respect for the man, and to create a respect- 
ful difidence, almost to embarrassment, in 
his presence ; and to produce a pliable and 
courteous disposition of yielding, to his opi- 
nions, words, and wishes. Thus, in almost 
every circle, where he moved, he gained a 
kind of irresistable ascendency, influence, 
and authority, like a father in his family, 
and aruler in Israel. We well know, what 
influence his presence had, what weight his 
words carried, and with what decision and 
precision, his opinion and judgment, would 
put to silence, and settle, the knotty, or the 
doubtful question. Who of us could be in 
his company without feeling impressed with 
a reverential awe, and profound respect, for 
the man, the christian, the minister, and am- 
bassador of God? It was almost impossible 
to approach, and converse with him, without 
feeling the strong influence of his spirit and 
presence, upon our minds, sentiments, words, 
and actions. There was something, in this re- 
markable fact, almost inexplicable, and indes= 
C 


26 


cribable. Was it owing to the strength and 
elevation of his spirit, the exalted and sub- 
lime conceptions of his mind, the dignity 
and majesty of his soul; or the sacred pro- 
fession and authority, with which he was 
clothed, in his distinguished character; as an 
eminent christian, remarkable for piety, and 
. an ambassador of God, invested with divine 
authority? But so it was, it appeared as 
though the very atmosphere in which he 
moved, gave unusual sensations of diffidence 


and humble restraint, to the boldest and © 


most undaunted confidence of, man. We 
now have, and, I hope and pray, we may 
continue to have, many excellent men, pious. 
christians, good preachers, wise counsellors, 
useful instructors, and able prudent rulers ; 
but alas! “to take him all and in all, his like 
we shall never see again!” Another F'ran- 
cis Asbury, another like him, we shall nei- 
ther have nor know again! Our father! our 
father! has gone down to the silent shades 
of death! but his happy spirit, with Elijah’s, 
has gone up to his God! 

Brethren! of the ministry, now bewailing, 
your loss, in tears; to you he was especially 


known, ever since you entered the ministry ; © 


probably, ever since you possessed religion ; 
and, perhaps, some of you, ever since your 
earliest recollection—to you, therefore, we 
might appeal, if necessary, as witnesses, of 


27 


what we advance. We might also appeal 
to many others, who for a long time, 
some of you, for more than forty years, 
have known the distinguished worth, the 
superior excellence, and the pre-eminent 
usefulness of our venerable father. But on 
earth we shall know him no more; we are left 
to mourn and to suffer a little longer im this 
vail of tears. However, we must be resign- 
ed. “The Lord gave and the Lord taketh 
away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”— 
We could not expect to have him always, nor 
keep him from his reward forever. We 
ought to be thankful, that we were favoured 
with him so long. We must learn to do 
without him. The Lord will provide. His 
memory, however,demands from us the tri- 
bute of respectful remembrance. 

Brethren, of the ministry, you have not 
been accustomed tomeet in your annual con- 
ference, without his presence amongst you, 
tocheer your spirits and gladden your hearts; 
and his wisdom, experience, and counsel, to 
aid and direct, in your deliberations and bu- 
-siness. But his seat is now vacated, to be 

filled by another; it may be well filled, and 
much to your satisfaction; but, not as it was 
by him; a vacuum, a vacancy, will remain. 
It is enough to say, He is not there: he is no 
more to preside among you; no more to go 
in and out before you. I believe I enter into 


i 
28 
your sympathies; you must feel like the sor-. 
rowful school of the prophets, when their. 
senior, their father, was taken away! 

We have been accustomed to receive the 
annual visits, of our Asbury, to be benefitted 
by his public ministry, to be instructed by 
his lectures and counsels, in society meetings, 
and to be profited by his pious conversations, 
and holy examples, in private families, and 
social circles. But now, my friends, while 
reflecting on the present sorrows, and com- 
paring them with the past joys; you must feel 
- a kind of melancholy pleasure, astrange con- 
flict of emotions, arising from the pleasing 
remembrance of the past, and a painful sen- 
sation under the present distress. Though 
sorrowing and sighing, at his death; yet were- 
joice and praise God, that he once lived, and 
that we ever saw his face and knew him, and 
enjoyed the unspeakable advantages of his 
labours of love. We bless God, that we have 
known, fully known, such a minister of the 
gospel, as the exemplary, the pious, the labo- 
rious, the useful Francis Asbury. 

Thou hast fully known, My DocTRINE.— 
We have not only known him, but his doc- 
trine. We now come on the subject of doc- 
érine. , As was before suggested, the Apos- 
tle Paul, forewarned Timothy, of perilous 
times to come, of great difficulties to encoun- 
ter,ofinsiduous teachers,who would be creep- 


29 


ing into houses, and churches, and artfully 
endeavouring to lead the unwary and silly 
professors astray. He apprized him of false 
doctrines, erroneous. opinions, vain specula- 
tions, and evil examples; which would be in- 
troduced among them, and probably, produce 
sad and awful effects, and destructive conse- 
quences, in the church of Christ.. Therefore, 
to put Timothy on his guard, and to arm him 
against those pernicious delusion,and danger- 
ous consequences; herefers him to the stand- 
ard of truth, in the holy scriptures, as exem- 
plified in his own doctrine, and manner of 
life, well known to Timothy; which were to 
be diligently followed, in opposition to those 
false teachers, and destructive errors, which 
were likely to produce heresy, schism, dis- 
orders, and confusion in the church; and ir- 
religion, wickedness, and destruction, to the 
souls of the people. The gospel doctrine, 
founded on a firm rock, supported by its cre- 
dible witnesses, competent testimony, and 
weight of internal evidence; can, alone, be 
sufficient, with God’s blessing, to counteract, 
and overthrow, the fanciful notions, vain 
philosophy, uncertain hypothesis, and speci- 
ous sophistry, of deluded, artful, and wicked 
men. i 

The term doctrine, signifies any tenet, opi- 
nion, principles or positions, of any sect, or 
‘teacher, whether true or false, in philosophy, 

C2 


ee ee 
30 
/ 

morals, or religion. Hence, we hear of the 
various doctrines of the ancient philosophers, 
such as the Stoicks, the Platonicks, the Py- 
thagoreans, the Fatalists, and others. All 
sécts, and all religions, have their peculiar 
doctrines; even we read of the doctrines of 
devils. Among the Jews, there were the 
doctrines of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the 
Essenes, and the Herodeans. Our Saviour, 
warned his disciples against the leven of the 
Pharisees, and they perceived that he spake 
of their doctrine. He also warned them 
against the doctrine of the Sadducees, the 
Herodeans, and other false opinions, and 
doctrines, in morals and religion. The apos- 
tle, followed Christ; and our late bishop, care- 
fully followed Paul, as he followed Christ; © 
in the custom of warning the people, against 
delusions and errors, of doctrine and of 
practice. How often have we heard him 
proclaim against pharisaical self-righteous- 
ness, against antinomian licenciousness, 
against sadducean sceptical infidelity, and 
the herodean courtly flattery, dissimulation, 
and carnal temporizing. : 

We find that in different nationsand ages, 
ancient and modern, that adiversity of sects 
and doctrines have existed ; not only among 
heathens and Jews, but also among those 
who have called themselves christians, both 
Greeks, Romans, and Protestants—There 


34 


were the Manichees, the Arians, Pelagians, 
Socinians, Antinomians, and numerous 
others, of anti-christian, and anti-scriptural 
doctrines, strange delusions, and alarming 
fatal errors, of primitive and modern times, 
which have made awful havoc in the chris~ 
tian world ; turning, as it were, the grace of 
God into lasciviousness; and many from the 
faith of the gospel, from the practice of piety, 
and from the way of salvation! Even in the 
apostolic days, the mystery of iniquity be- 
gan to spread, and condemnable heresies 
were brought in, overthrowing the faith of 
some, and bringing swift destruction upon 
them. “ Now the spirit speaketh expressly, 
that in the latter times some will depart from 
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and 
doctrines of devils. For the time will come, 
when they will not endure sound doctrine; 
but after their own lusts will they heap to 
themselves teachers; having itching ears, 
they will turn eway their ears from the 
truth, and will be turned unto fables.”— 
Some of the false doctrines were of Jewish 
origin, others of Pagan derivation, and. 
others of astrange heterogeneous compound, 
of Judaism, heathen philosophy, Pagan idola- 
try and superstition, blended with christiani- 
ty. Others, again, from the vain philosophy, 
fanciful notions, and specious pretentions, of 
strange theological speculators; in schemes, 
systems, and bodies of divinity, so called. 


32 


Unfortunately, in the days of St. Jugus=. 
tine, bishop of Hippo, and/of St. Prosper, his — 
zealous advocate, in the end of the fourth, 
and beginning of the fifth century, there — 
were too many of the doctrines of the Pla- — 
tonic school, and Stoical philosophy, of. 
blind fatality, and of absolute, arbitrary, 
unavoidable necessity, strangely blended, | 
and lamentably incorporated with the doc- 
trines of the christian theology. Out of 
which, as it appears to me, in a great mea- 
sure, arose the Antinomian doctrine of un- 
conditional election and reprobation—the 
doctrine of absolute predestination of the elect 
to life and salvation, as immutably and infalli- 
bly certain, as absolute necessity can make it, 
do what they will; and the predestination of 
the reprobates to unavoidable destruction, as 
awfully-certain, as fatality itself can fix it, 
do what they can! And all this, pretended 
to be unalterably established, by a supposed, 
irrevocable, immutable decree, made from 
ali eternity. I can find nothing of this, m 
the apostles doctrine—nothing like this, was 
taught or believed by our late Bishop. He, 
and all of us to help him, could not find it, 
in the benevolent, the impartial,the just, and 
merciful doctrines, of the gospel * the free 
grace of God, in Christ Jesus. No, nor in the 

| primitive fathers, previous to St. Augustine. 
- Some set up, and dissemirate for doc- 


33 


trines, the wild effusions and vain imagina- 
tions of their own disordered fancies ; some 
attempt to buiid and improve upon the. ‘Sper 
culative notions of other men; some appear 
to be influenced by the pride of vain _philoso- 
phy; others by an enthusiastical imagina- 

tion, bordering on fanaticism, proclaim 
| the reveries of their own whimsical fancy ; 
others by their prepossessions or prejudices, 
for or against any notion or opinion, as it 
may appear subservient to the predelictions 
of their passions, their interest, their per- 
verse wills, their views of gratification, or the 
depraved inclinations of their own wicked 
hearts; and others again from some strange 
and unaccountable unstableness of mind, 
which subjects them to be driven about with 
every wind of doctrine, and to be the dupes 
of artful, insinuating, designing, or deluded 
men. 

In the dark ages of popery, whatian awfal 
departure from the doctrines and authority 
of the scriptures of truth; from the spirit, and 
temper, and practice of the gospel; and al- 
most from every moralvirtue. And how de- 
plorably was the church, so called, sunk into 
the abominations of idolatry and superstition, 
and into a profanation of sacred things! 
The decrees and canons of counci 
papal bulls, and the decretals of the ] 
were substituted, for divine authority, 


ait eee 


place ofthe holy scriptures, as a rule of faith 
and practice. The pure apostolic doctrines 
of the gospel, were almost entirely discarded. 
It was at the risk of property, liberty, and 
life ; to believe, profess, and live up to the 
doctrines of Christ, ascontained in the word 
of God. Exquisite tortures were inflicted, 
on those who dared to question the autho- 
rity and the infallibility, of the Romish 
church, their councils, and popes ; though 
ever so unscriptural, absurd, and horrid. I 
forbear to recite, even from ecclesiastical 
writers of that church, such as Duphin, doc- 
tor of the Sorbonne, and Royal Professor, in 
the ecclesiastical faculty at Paris, and others, 
the awful apostacy, and abominations of the 
church of Rome. 

_ Many zealous and laudible efforts were 
made, against the corruptions of Rome, the 
tyranny of the popes, and the abomination 
of desolation, standing, iti the holy place; 
a long time, before much, if any, reformation 
could be produced. The Waldenses, the 
Albigenses, and others, struggled hard, but to 
little effect; they were generally suppressed 
and awfully slaughtered, and butchered; by 
divers methods of cruelty and torture ; by the 

ecular arm, then under the power and con- 

_ of the ecclesiastical hierarchy of Rome. 

ength, Wickliffe, of England, then John ~ 

ss, and Jerome, of Prague, made bold, » 


: 35 

learned, pious, and deadly strokes, at the pre= 
vailing errors, abuses, and corruptions of 
popery. They sowed the seed of truth, 
which afterwards sprang up, and produced 
a blessed harvest of the word. When Lu- 
ther, Melancthon, Calvin, and other protest- 
ant Divines, being protected and supported by 
princely reformers, proclaimed the doctrines 
of the scriptures, and the authority of Christ, 
asa standard of divine truth; and the only 
divine rule of christian faith and practice; in 
‘opposition to the awful indulgences, and 
other prevailing errors, superstitions, and 
idolatry of the times ; it was like a lamp that 
burneth, with brightness, to shine upon the 
path of salvation. ‘The word of the Lord 
prevailed, and the doctrines of truth reviv- 
ed, and a great reformation took place, and 
spread. in the earth. 

But unfortunately, too many of the pro- 
testantreformed churches, in process of time, 
greatly sunk into formality, and mto the 
spirit and temper of the world; and then, 
evangelical doctrines, and vital piety, again 
declined; and were too seldom heard from the 
pulpit, read from the press, or seen in the 
lives and deportment of professors. Genu- 
ine primitive christianity was greatly neglect- 
ed, and scarcely to be found; excepting in 
corners, and solitary circles. The churches 
generally, having a name to live, but were 


36 
% : 
dead—“having a form of godliness, but deny- 
ing the power thereof—professing to know 
Christ, but in works denying him.” This 
lamentable state of things, too generally ex- 
isted, in the different churches and nations of 
the earth.—When, in the early part of the 
last century, God, in his wisdom and good~ 
ness, raised up the two Wesleys, John and 
Charles, George Whitefield, and a goodly 
number of other faithful witnesses; who — 
_ stood forth as lights in a benighted land, 
zealously to testify of the grace of God, and 
to spread the doctrine of gospel truth, and 
to revive evangelical religion in the world. — 
They made a firm and successful stand, and 
boldly attacked the strong holds of dark~ 
ness, the errors of the times, and the vices 
of the age; which were so prevalent among 
both the clergy and the laity. God blessed 
their efforts, prospered their labours, and 
added to their strength, and to their numbers — 
daily. Behold, they have spread into bands! © 
The Wesleys, and their coadjutors, were 
attacked on every side, and almost in every 
form, by principalities, powers, and spiri- 
tual wickedness in high places. But they 
stood steadfast, in the support and defence 
of the apostles doctrine, with great patience 
and perseverance. We might give a cata- 
logue of eminent and useful men, who were 
imployed, as colleagues and co-workers to- 


37 


gether, for many years, in this great and 
glorious revival of pure and undefiled re- 
ligion; but for this, [refer you to Crowther’s 
- Portraiture of Methodism, to the Minutes 
ef Conferences, and to the histories written 
by Wm. Myles, J. Lee, and others, upon 
this subject. 
However, I will briefly notice the remar- 
kable providence of God, in raising up that 
_admirable and wonderful man, John Fletch- 
er, who came to the help of the Lord 
against the mighty. He was an eminent and 
learned man, and one of the most holy and 
useful preachers of his day, and one of the 
most distinguished polemical writers of the 
age. Mr. Wesley acknowledged, that God 
had raised up John Fletcher, as a helper and 
assistant to him in this great work. In the 
year 1771, the Revd. Mr. Shirley, and nine 
or ten others, opposers of Mr. Wesley, and 
the Methodist doctrine, came to the Bristol 
Conference, in a body, and insisted upon a 
recantation .of certain offensive points of 
doctrine, which had been published in the 
minutes of conference for 1770; and which 
dad occasioned the publication of Mr. Shir- 
‘ley’s famous circular letter. ‘They con- 
versed freely about two hours, and found 
the Conference not such “ dreadful heriticks” 
as they immagined; but tolerably sound in 


the faith.” Mr, Wesley and the Conrfer-. 
D Bet 


i al 


$: oe SEO CO | 
“$8 ar . 
» " 


ence, would not, and did not, recant’ any of 
the points or propositions, against which, 
Mr. Shirley, and his friends, so warmly pro-— 
tested. This brought on that great, and 
extraordinary, religious controversy; in — 
which Mr. Fletcher, so remarkably and 
pre-eminently distinguished himself in polé- 
mical divinity. Hé came out, from the 
press, in open and bold defence of the Mi- 
nutes, and of the doctrines therein contain- 
ed. He appeared, as with gigantic strength 
of logical, argument accompanied by the ir- 
resistible evidence and testimony of the 
scriptures of truth. His learned opposers, 
one afteranother, took him in turn; Shirley, 
the two Hills, Toplady, and others, were all 
put to silence. Those masterly and unan- 
swerable writings, I would recommend, to 
the attention of all, who wish to be settled, 
and established, in points of gospel truth, 
and scripture doctrines—especially, I would 
recommend them to all ministers, and 
dents of divinity. They are in six volumes, 
under the title of FLETCHER’S CHECKS. 
“ Ah, Fletcher, many have done well, but 
thou hast done wonderously well.” «7 
In the time of this great revival of truth 
and religion, during the ardent struggles 
for the maintainance of the doctrines of the 
gospel of Christ, while many were success- 
‘fully, and “ earnestly contending for the faith, 


_. 


t 


89 


once delivéred to the saints”, our Asbury, 
came forward, as a son in the gospel; being 
well instructed, by the best of preceptors, in 


| the doctrines of grace, the genuine princi- 
| ples of the christian religion, both in theory, 


experience, and practice. At the Bristol 


| Conference, above mentfoned, in 1771, he 
| had been travelling, as a preacher, about five 
| years. We shall have further occasion, in 
| this discourse, to notice, that it was at that — 
conference, he was appointed to come to 
| America. He was considered as settled 


and established in doctrines, sound in the 
faith, and well qualified for the Mission. 
Like a David, the son of Jesse, a strip- 
ling in the armies of Israel, he ventured 
forth, to meet and encounter the gasconad- 
ing- Goliah, the giant of error and sin, 
which stalked through the land, putting at, 


_ defiance the armies of the living God. Me- 
thinks, I can almost see him, with his 


shepherd’s staff in hand, taking the five 
smooth stones of truth, out of the brook 
divine, putting them into his shepherd’s,bag, 
and with his gospel sling in his hand, going 
forth in the name of the living God, against 
the prince of the power of the air, who rules 
the children of discbedience. He took the 
sword of the spirit, the word of God, the 
shield of faith, the breast-plate of righteous- 
ness, the helmet of salvation; was girt about 


40 


with truth, shod with the preparation of the 
gospel; and then, praying always, with all 
prayer and supplication in the spirit, and 
watching thereunto with all perseverance; he 
came forth in this glorious warfare, as a 
good soldier, to fight under the banner of 
“Christ, against false doctrine, sin, and the 
divil. His Motio was, “ Do the work of an 
_evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. . 
~ Continue thou in these things, which thou hast — 
learned, and hast been assured of, know ingof 
whom thou hast learned of them. Take heed to 
thyself, and to thy doctrine; continue in them; — 
give thyself wholly to them: for in so doing, — 
pv shalt both save thyself and them that hear 
thee.” 

His doctrines, are so fully known, that it 
may be a question, whether it is necessary 
to expatiate, particularly, upon their various 
branches. They embraced all those divine 

. truths, contained in the sacred scriptures.— 
‘The bible, to him, was the book of books, ~ 
and his grand confession of faith. He was 
careful to regulate, all his religious tenets 
‘and doctrines, by the book of God; and to 
discard every thing that was incompatible — 
with the divine law and testimony. Mr. 
Wesley’s Sermons, and Notes on the Scrip- 
tures, and Fletcher’s Checks, exemplify his 
leading doctrines. The’Articies of religion, 
in the Form of Discipline, and, what is com+ 


44 


monly called, the Apostles Creed, contain 4 
brief summary of his faith and doctrines.—~ 
In his public ministry, in his conference 
communications, and examinations of can- © 
didates, for the ministry; in his addresses to 
the Societies, in his private and social in- 
terviews, and in his sentimental conversa- 
tions; we have often heard him, instructive- 
ly and entertainingly, profess, declare, and 
enforce his opinions and doctrines. We 
have fully known them. 
- - With fear and trembling, I almost shud- 
der, at the idea of touching upon some of 
the awfully glorious doctrines of the gospel, 
which embrace his sublime and exalted 
views of the Infinity, and Eternity, of the 
divine perfections, and glorious attributes ! 
The incomprehensible, and inexplicable ful- 
ness, of the adorable, Omnipotent, Omnipre- 
sent, and Omnicient Deity ! Whose divine 
wisdom, goodness, and power, brought all 
creation into existence; and wonderfully , 
govern the universé! And are continually 
employed, in benevolent diffusions, and mer- 
ciful distributions, of providential and gra- 
cious benefits, to all creation! The Being of 
a God, permit mé to say, is so indisputably , 
manifest, in all the visible works of nature, 
and in all the perceptible, and conceivable, 
- volume of the universe; that an irresistible 
consciousness, of the Being of a God, anda — 
D2 


Ps ie ets, eo a ak oe Bhi 


42 


moral sense of Deity, is forcibly, and incon-" 
trovertibly, impressed upon the reason, the 

_ Judgment, and the understanding of every 
intelligent creature! Hence, it appears to me, ~ 
about as necessary, and as reasonable, to at-— 
tempt to prove, the being of a God, by argu-— 
ment, as it is to light a candle, at noon day, to 
let men see that the sun shines; and to prove, 
thereby, the existence of the sun. It appears 
to me, that the power, the wisdom, the good- 
ness, and the government, of the infinite 
God, in creation, and providence, is as con- 
clusive, and indisputably manifest, to reason 
and consciousness, as the illumination, and — 
warmth of the world, by the light and heat 
of the sun, is evident, to the corporeal sense, 
of seeing and feeling, that the sun exists, and 
gives light and heat! 

It is, however, one thing to acknowledge 
God, and, like the Athenians, raise an altar, 
and make inscriptions, “To THE UNKOWN 
Gop;” but it is another thing, to know him, 
The unknown God, whom many ignoranily 
worship ; him we declare unto you. This is 
life elernal, to know thee, the only true God,” 
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”— 
« Acquaint now, thyself with him, and be at 
peace, thereby good shall come unto thee.” “God 
hath made the world, and all things therein, 
he is Lord of heaven and of earth; he 
giveth to all life, and breath, and all things ; 


43 


and hath made of one blood, all nations of 
men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth: 
for in him, we live, and move, and have our: 
being.” Forasmuch then, as we are all the 
offspring of God, we ought not to think light- - 
ly or irreverently of his Being, and sove-- 
reignty over us; and of our dependence on 
him, and obligations tohim. Heaven is his 
throne, and earth is his footstool! ‘ The’ 
invisible things of him from the creation of 
the world are clearly seen, being understood by 
the things that are made, even his eternal 
power and Godhead.” O' that the God of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, 
may give unto us the spirit of wisdom and 
revelation, in the knowledge of himself! 
The eyes of our understanding being en- 
lightened, that we may know what is the 
hope of his calling, and the riches of the 
glory of his inheritance in the saints, and 
the exceeding greatness of his power toward 
those who believe, according to the working 
of his mighty power, wrought in Christ, far 
above all principality, and power, and might, 
and dominion, and every name that is nam- 
ed, not only in this world, but also in that 
which i to come.” “ The fulness of Him, 
that filleth all in all!” O! the depth of the 
riches, both of the wisdom, and knowledge, 
_ and power, and goodness of God! how un- 
_ searchable are his judgments, and his. ways 

_ past finding out! 


PO te eee 


; Ad, 
The doctrine of the Trinity—That great, 


and inexplicable, perhaps, inconceivable, 
mystery ; of three persons, or personated 
offices, in the, supernatural and divine ope- 
rations, interpositions, and influences, of the 
Infinite Spirit ; in the stupendous works of 
creation, redemption, and sauctification ; and 
that these three, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
are. One, in the indivisible, unity of the eter- 
nal and infinite Deity. This sublime doc- 
trine, he held and taught, as an article of the 
christian faith, founded in the scriptures of 
truth. “ There are three that bear record in 
heaven, the Father, the Word, and Holy Ghost: 
and these three are one.” And why should 
this doctrine be thought any more unreason- 


_ able, or difficult, to hold, and believe, on 


the ground of mystery; than to hold and 
believe, that every attribute, and every per- 
fection of God, is an infinite attribute, and 
an infinite perfection ; and yet, nevertheless, 
all the particular infinite attributes, and all 
the distinct infinite perfections of Deity, are 
so many distinct infinites, as applied to every 
particular perfection and attribute, and yet, 
are all comprehended in the One, indivisible, 
Infinite Being? O! the unsearchable, the 
incomprehensible, the boundless, the im- 
measurable, lengths, and breadths, and 
depths, and heights, and infinites, of the 
power, the wisdom, the goodness, the voli- 


45 \ 


tion, the presence, and the free-agency, of 
the One Eternal, Infinite Jehovah! Filling 
an infinite expanse, or boundless space! 
And, filling an infinite duration, from eter- 
nity past, to eternity tocome! As some 
have expressed it, “‘ Comprehending, One 
eternal now!” For us to attempt to scan 
and test, the infinite possibilities, consisten- 
cies, connexions, and subsistences, with 
God, by our finite capacities, and limited 
views, is as fruitless and unreasonable, as 
an attempt to gather the boundless ocean, 
and contain it in the palm of our hand ; or 
to stand on the earth, and touch the stars 
with our fingers. Oh! thou Infinite of Infi- 
nities! How unsearchable art thou! And 
thy being, thy fperfections, and thy ways, 
past finding out! In awful reverence we 
prostrate before thee! And as we cannot. - 
comprehend thee, we desire, with profound 
adoration, to worship at thy feet! We 
| prostrate before thee! We fear, we love, 
we worship and adore thee! 
CThe doctrine of the fall of man—He held 
that man had fallen, from his primeval inno- 
cency ; and believed the universal depravi- 
ty of human nature ; that the whole poste- 
rity of Adam, were plunged into sin, and 
into a lost and helpless condition; unable 
to restore or save themselves, or even to 
perform any good work, acceptable to God, 


* 


® without the grace of God in Christ Jesus 
preventing them.” All flesh hath corrupt- 
ed their way ; they have all gone out of the 
way ; there is none that doeth good, no not 
one. ‘ By one man, sin entered into the 
world, and death by sin, so death has pass- 
ed upon all, for all have sinned.” “ The 
whole head is sick, the whole heart faint ; 
from the sole of the foot even to the crown, 
wounds, bruises, and putrifying sores. The 
carnal mind, is enmity against God-being 
alienated, we are enemies to God by wicked 
works.” This doctrine, we know he held 
and taught. It is truly a sad picture of hu- 
man depravity ; debased by sin, sunk into 
crimes, loaded with guilt, and under the sen- 
tence of death, condemned and wretched)! 
Is there any hope of relief? Is there any _ 
prospect? Is there any ‘promise of a Deli- 
verer? O, yes! The Lord Jesus Christ, is 
able to bear, and strong to deliver. In the 
majesty of his divine power, he bruises the 
serpent’s head, and wounds the dragon; he 
spoils the hosts of hell, and triumphs over 
sin, death, and the grave. He leads capti- 
vity, captive, and procures gifts, of grace, 
pardon, and salvation, even for the rebel- 
lious. 

(The doctrine of redemption—Of salvation, 
through the incarnation, life, sufferings, 
death, resurrection, aScension, and interces~ - 


onal 


47 

a . , 

sion, of our Lord Jesus Christ. The doc- 
trine of a full, complete, and general atone- 
ment. That, through the merits and medi- 
ation of the adorable Saviour, there is free 
and full redemption and salvation, for all, 
and every one, who as a moral agent, will 
come, and accept it, upon gospel terms. 
This was a topic, on which his tongue, his 
heart, and his soul, delighted to dwell! 
Pleasing theme! Redemption through Christ; 
salvation for sinners ! 

How often have we heard him proclaim, 
in animated strains, and pathetic energy— 
“ Jesus whowas made a little lower than the 

‘angels, for the suffering of death ; crowned 
with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of 
God, should taste death for every man!” “ The 
lowe of Christ constraineth us, because we thus 

judge, if one died for all, then were all dead, 
and that he died for all, that they who live, 
should not henceforth live to themselves, but 
to him who died for them, and rose again” — 
“that the grace of God, that bringeth salva~ 
tion, hath appeared to all men”—“ God is 
not slack concerning his promise, as some 
men count slackness, but is long-suffering 
to usward, not willing that any should perish, 
but that all should come to repentance and 
live” —He held, he preached, he offered free 
mercy, and salvation, to every soul of man. 


“ As I live, saith the Lord, I have no plea-. 


48 
sure in the death of the oy an 
e 


the wicked turn from his way and live. 

“For this is good and acceptable in t 

sight of God our Saviour, who will have 
all men to be saved, and to come unto the 
knowledge of the truth”—* Who gave him- 
self a ransom for all”—O, glorious news! 
Redeeming love! heavenly doctrine ! And, 
“God be thanked for the unspeakable gift 
’ Of a divine Saviour! An all sufficient Sa- 
viour! A full and free salvation! 

He held the doctrine, of the Divinity of 

Christ. In opposition to Deism, Arianis 
Socinianism, and all the host of ceed 
infidelity. For, “ In the beginning was the 
Word, and the Word was with God, and the 
Word was God—And, the Word was made 
flesh and dwelt among us.—In him dwelleth 
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily—The 
mighty God, the everlasting Father. God 
our Saviour ; who gave himself a ransom for 
all.” 

He also held the doctrine of the superna- 
tural influences of the Holy Ghost, upon the 
hearts and consciences of men, in reproving 
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and’ 
judgment. It is by the diversity of the ope- 
rations of the Holy Ghost, that the under- 
standing is divinely illumimated, the will 
graciously renovated, and the affections of 
the heart become sanctified. Itis the Di 


49 


wine Spirit, that graciously excites, and reli- 
giously quickens, the moral sensibility, and 
the moral capacity of the human soul, to 
things spiritual and divine. He shall receive 
of mine, said Christ, and shall shew it unto 
you—When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he 
will guide you into all truth. It is by the 
efficient influences of the Holy Spirit, that 
the soul is awakened, regenerated, justified, 
and sanctified. The fruit of the Spirit, is 
love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, 
soodness, faith, meekness, temperance—Now, 
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he 
is none of his—O Lord, take not thy Holy 
Spirit from us! Uphold us by thy free 
Spirit! Enable us to live in the Spirit, to 
walk in the Spirit, and to mind the things 
of the Spirit! O, that, “ The Spirit itself, 
may bear witness with our spirits, that we 
are the children of God!” 

He also held, and constantly inculcated, 
the doctrine of “‘ Repentance towards God, 
and of faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ;” 
and the necessity of a holy life,in obedience 
tc the gospel of the grace of God; as the 
terms and conditions, upon which we ob- 
fain salvation. ‘ Except ye repent ye shall 
all likewise perish.” ‘ He that believethnot 
the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of 
God abideth on him.” And, “ without ho- 
imess, no man shall see the Lord.” Ex- 


50 


_ perimental and practical dliigin, faith and 
good works; justification and sanctificati 
anda perseverance in holiness of heart 
life, to the end; were, less or more, inc 
porated with, and enforced in most all 
discourses. In the divine scheme and 
plan of'sylvation, I consider that, the Love 
of God, is the moving cause; the atonem 
of Chiist: is the meritorious cause; the s 
pernatural'influences of the Holy Ghost, th 
efficient cause; and repentance, faith, and 
obedience, the conditional cause of our sal 
vation. What God, in his word, hath join 
ed together, as so many links, in his gosp 
chain, let no man attempt to seperate, 
put asunder. O, that we all, may be strong, 
and unfeigned in ‘the faith! correct, and true. 
in opinion and doctrine! sound, and deep, 
in, christian expenesce obedient, and pious 
in holy living! and the God of peace, sant 
tify us wholly; and preserve our whole 
spirit, soul, and body, blameless! ; 
His doctrine, of the immortality of the 
soul; future rewards and punishment; ofa 
general resurrection; of an awful day of jud 
ment; and of the eternity of the happiness I 
the righteous; and of the at pusig S 
ment of the wicked; are well r 
by, proclaimed abroad, as wit a mpet- 
voice; especially, in the applications Ls son 
of his most solemn, and most alarmin, 


51 


courses! Death, judgment, heaven and hell, 
immortality and eternity! O! eternity! 
eternity! that awful sound! It is more ter- 
rifick, than the peals of roaring thunder! O 
God! let it sound with good effect in every 
ear; and with divine energy and power to 
every heart! 

“ It is appointed man once for to die, and af- 
ter death thejudgment. The hour is coming, 
in the which, all that are in the graves, shall 
hear his voice, and shall come forth; they 
that have done good, to the resurrection of life; 
and they that have done evil, to the resurrec- 
tion of condemnation! In a moment, in the 
twinkling of an eye, the trumphet shall sound, 
and the dead shall be raised! This corrupti- 
ble, must put on incorruption; and this mortal, 
must put on immortality; then, death is swal- 
lowed wp in victory. O,death! where is thy 
sting? O, grave! where is thy victory? Thanks 
be to God, who giveth us the victory, through 
mur Lord Jesus Christ!—The wicked, shall 
z0 away into everlasting punishment; but the 

ighteous, into life eternal. Alas! when the 
reat day of his wrath is come, who shall be 
le to stand?” 

He rightly divided the word of truth, and 

ve to each his portion in due season. He 

ad a doctrine, for the unrighteous impeni- 
ent sinner; a doctrine, for the broken heart- 
d penitent mourner; a doctrine, for the be- 


\ 


Pe a ee ee ee Se 


52 


lieving, humble, loving christian; and, 
doctrine, for every situation and station & 
life; and, for the variety of casuistical cases 
of conscience, and questions of moral an 
religious duty, so frequently occurring 
the economy and concerns of the chris) 
tian life and conduct, in doing and suffering’ 
the will of God. He was, in scriptural a 
casuistical theology, a Master in Israel; 

a distinguished evangelical divine. Deser- 
vedly to be placed in ‘the first class of pa~| 
trjarchal and apostolical theologians, pastors, 
and bishops. , 

We have fully known his doctrines, on 
all the great and essential points and detai 
of the christian faith; and on all the’ impor- 
tant necessary duties of the christian life —~ 
What he have, as christians, and ministers, 
to believe, to experience, to do, to endure, 
and to enjoy. Calculated to awaken the guil- 
ty consciences of sinners; to encourage and 
comfort the conflicting minds of desponding” 
mourners; to build up and establish believ~ 
ers, in all the graces of the Spirit; to lead 
and direct the souls of men, in the sure way 
of salvation; and to set forth the honor, the’ 
praise, and the glory of God! 

_How remarkably different, are his dot-' 
trines, from the fanciful notions, the whinisi-— 
cal reveries, the hypothetical theories, and 
vain philosophical speculations, of unstable,’ 


53 


double-minded, enthusiastic, obstinate, or 
perverse men? Alas! we have to lament 
and mourn, that the world has so much 
abounded with false doctrines, unscriptural 
notions, incoherent opinions, and systems, 
and of dogmatisms of divers kinds; of those, 
who were“ ever learning, and never able to 
come at the knowledge of the truth.” “ Pro- 
fessing to be wise, and knowing nothing as 
they ought to know.” Being, “wiser in 
their own conceits, than seven, who can 
render a reason.” Of whom it may be 
said, “ Tosee a man wise in his own con- 
ceit, there is more hope of a fool, than of 
that man.”’ How lamentably has the world 
been deluded and blinded; the church per- 
plexed, divided and distracted; and indivi- 
duals deceived, led astray, and ruined; by 
the doctrines of Atheism, Deism, Arianism, 
Pelagianism, Antinomianism, Pharisaism, 
Socinianism? And by a numerous train of 
other, anti-scripturalisms; dangerous, mis- 
- chievous, and destructive doctrines, of mis- ° 
takenor wicked men. Againstall such,he 
opposed his doctrines, of apostolic and ~ 
scriptural truth. His warning voice, was 
lifted up, his voice of reproof, of counsel, 
and admonition, “ to banish, and drive away 
all erroneous, and strange doctrines contrary 
to Gods word!” And diligently to teach and 
enforce the wholesome scriptural doctrines, 
E 2 


54 


of Jesus Christ, as the “ Life, the truth, and 
the way.” Didhe not, “ withstand and cons 
vince the gainsayers?” “ And italy oll 
openly call upon and encourage others to: 
do the same?” ‘ 
But now, his voice is hushed into silence! 
We shallno more hear it proclaim the joy- 
ful sound! But,we can never forget the sa-_ 
cred truths, we have so often heard him ut-_ 
ter. Being dead, he yet speaketh to our re~ 
collection. It appears, again, as though his 
presence were hovering about us, and his 
spirit, as it were, whispering to our imagi-— 
nation. ‘“ My weeping children, my mourn~ 
ing brethren, I have left you in tears and 
sorrow; but I have left you my doctrine, as 
a precious valuable legacy! See that yotr 
never forget, nor. forsake, my counsels, in- 
structions, examples, and doctrines!” 
Brethren, “ Let us give the more earnest 
heed to the things which we have heard, lest at 
any time we should let them slip.” * Let us ~ 
earnestly contend for the faith, once delivered 
tothe Saints.” To be more particular and: 
minute, upon the whole system of his doc- 
trine, in all the points of theology, and on alk 
the various details, of his public and private 
instructions, including the full scope of his 
tenets, opinions, positions, and principles; 
would be to give a voluminous body of di- 
vinity, better suited to a folio publication, 


. a 


JD: 


to be read and studied, in schools of theolo- | 


gy, and private studies, for weeks and 
months, than tothe time, accasion, and cir= 
cumstances of a funeral discourse. Suffice 
it to say, he held all the doctrines of the 
gospel of Christ, as true and divine, solid 
and substantial, pure and uncorrupted, hea- 
venly and glorious! Involving, and com- 

prehending, the benevolent purposes of God, 
in the most essential and eternal interests 
of man; ralative to the salvation of his soul, 
to his genuine and intrinsic happiness in 
time, and to his permanent felicity, and en- 
joyment of God, in eternity. 

O, may we ever believe, love, and obey, 
the glorious doctrines contained in the 
Scriptures, as the truths of God! They shall 
stand, when the world shall sink and disap- 
pear. “ Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
but not a jot on tittle of Gols word shall fail.” 
When the elements shall melt with fervent 
heat; and the heavens and the earth shall pass 
away with a great noise; then, in the wreck 
of elements, and crush of worlds, the word 
of God shall stand secure! And the doers 
of the word, will be safe, and abide for~ 
ever! They shall shout, above the fiery void! 
“ They shall be caught up in the clouds tomeet 
the Lord in the air; and so-shall ever be with 
the Lord!” “(Q, glorious, celestial doctrine! 
While it brings life and immortality to light; 


56 


it unfolds the celestial doors of paradise, 
opens the gates of heaven, and reveals to 
the eye of faith, ten thousand unspeakable 
‘charms, unutterable delights, and meffable 
glories! It directs and guides, the steps of 
the christian, as a light to his feet, anda 
lamp to his paths, in the way of faith, hope, 
and love, up the mountain of the Lord,, to 
the temple of his holiness, to the tabernacle 
of his presence, and to the habitation of his 
glory! The contemplation, the anticipation, 
is overwhelming! It excites profound ado- 
ration, with astonishment aud. wonder! O 
happy! thrice h lace! eternally hap- 
nel bere, my teria in that splendid 
world, of celestial spirits, we may expect to 
meet our departed friend, shining as & 
bright star, or as the sun in the firmament! 
“ They that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmamext; and they that turn ma- 
ny to righteousness, as the stars forever and 
ever. Then shall the righteous shine forth as 
the sun in the kingdom of their Father!” OQ, 
the anticipation of ineffable bliss! Our 
hearts, and tongues, praise the Lord! And 
all within us agile his holy name! Ho- 
sanna! Hallelujah! forever and ever! 

Thou hast fully known, not only, my doc- 
trine; but, MANNER OF LIFE. St. Paul’s man- 
ner of life, is left on record, as written by 
St. Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles ; and 


57 


also, in his own Epistles, to the different 
churches, and persons, to whom he wrote. 
“ My manner of life, said he, from my youth, 
which was at first among mine own nation, at 
Jerusalem, know all the Jews, who knew me 
from the beginning, that after the most strict 
sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And 
now, I stand, and am judged, for the hope of the 
promise, made of God, unto our fathers.” He 
then proceeds, to give an account, of his 
wretchedness by nature, of his awakening, to 
a discovery of his lost condition, and of his 
conversion, and call to the ministry, and 
apostleship ; also of his preaching, his tra- 
vels, and his labours, both among the Jews 
and the Gentiles. And, while speaking, 
king Agrippa, was almost persuaded to be 
a christian. ‘In other places, he says, “ Ye 
know, from the first day that I came into 
Asia, after what manner; I have been with 
you at all seasons, serving the Lord, with 


all humility of mind, and with many tears 


and temptations which befel me by the 
lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept 
back nothing that was profitable unto you, 
but have shewn you, and have taught you, 
publicly, and from house to house, testifying 
both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, re- 
pentance toward God, and faith toward our 
Lord Jesus Christ.” “ Neither count I my 
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish 


= a esa a i 


my course with joy, and the ministry which | 
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to tess | 
tify the gospel of the grace of God.” “ ¥ 

know, how holily, and justly, and unblamea- 
bly, we have lived among you.” ~ + 

The Apostle gave an account of his man 
ner of life, previous to his conversion to | 
God ; also of his conversion, embracing-the | 
christian faith, his call to the apostleship 
and ministry; likewise, his holy living, great 
labours, long sufferings, tedious travels, 
painful persecutions, and anxious cares, in- 
the kingdom and patience of our Lord Je- 
sus Christ. . 

This example, of the apostle, might be a 
sufficient apology, if any were necessary, and 
pleaded in justification, for giving, and pub-— 
lishing, narratives, or memoirs, of the ex- 
perience and lives of pious and eminent 
christians and servants of ‘God. 

When we review St. Paul’s manner of — 
life, and follow him by land and water, in i 
adversity and prosperity, among friends and 
enemies ; through Asia and Europe, among — 
Jews and Gentiles; at Damascus, Jerusa-_ 
lem, and the coasts of Judea; at Antioch, — 
Ephesus, Troas, Macedonia, and Philippi, 
Athens, and Rome; through Lesser Asia, 
Greece, and Italy; preaching the gospel; 
forming, constituting, and regulating, chris- — 
tian societies and churches; ordaining 


59 


elders, and deacons, and putting things in 
regular order; giving directions, advice, 
and counsel; and having the care of all the 
churches upon him. Have we not the pro- 
totype, or the archetype, of the manner of life, 
of our late venerable bishop Asbury? That 
is, the original exemplar, in Paul, of the sur- 
prising copy, in Asbury? Or the original 
drawn by Paul, of which a striking resem- 
blance is made by Asbury? I am persuaded, 
that the propriety of this remark, will be ad- 


‘mitted, by those who have, attentively, exa-. 


mined both; who have carefully, and impar- 
tially compared the copy with the original. 
Is not the resemblance plain, and the imita- 
tion striking? 

I am almost at a loss, where to begin, and 
how to proceed, in giving a sketch (for such 
only it can be at this time) of the extra- 
ordinary, and wonderful, manner of life, of 
the venerable and very distinguished Fran- 
cis Asbury. It is almost, if not altogether, 
impossible to give a narrative of his life and 
character, without incorporating with it, in 
some degree, the history of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. The one, is so intimate- 
ly and essentially connected with the other, 
that they cannot well be separated, without 
injustice to the subject. The Memoirs of his 
life, must necessarily contain a considerable 
history of the Methodist church in Ameri- 


60 


ea. And a faithful history of the church, | 
must, as necessarily, give a history of his 
life. Also, permit me here to observe, that, 
while treating on his manner of life, we shall 
be led, to touch upon some things, already 
noticed, under the head of doctrines: for, in 
a great degree, the force and influence of his 
doctrines, upon his own believing heart, and’ 
mind, governed the leading actions, and 
the whole deportment of his life. Likewise, 
while on this part of the subject, we may — 
have occasion, and it" may be necessary, ta 
touch, at times, upon his purposes, faith, long- 
suffering, charity, patience: for these, are so 
closely connected with each other, that we 
cannot separate them, as perfectly distinct 
from each other. Yet, nevertheless, we 
shall endeavour to take a particular view of 
each, under distinct heads, in the order they 
lie before us, in the text. In this view of 
the case, and from these considerations, it 
must be expected, that while treating on one 
part of the subject, we shall occasionally have 
to refer to the other parts. 

His Biography, or Memoirs, ought to be, 
and no doubt will be, written and published, 
by some able hand, well furnished with ma~- 
terials, and documents; and, capable of doing 
him more» ample justice, than tay know- 
ledge, recollection, feeble abilities, or time, 
at present, will admit of. His character, 


61 

his life, eminent piety, great atoll 
markable diligence, astonishing labours, and 
extraordinary usefulness ; should be record- 
ed, perpetuated, and transmitted, to posteri- 
ty, and future generations; as a MremeEnTo, 

or monument, and durable memorial, of de- 
parted worth; and in memory of the pious 
dead. That beeps: and christian minis- 
ters, in ages yet to come, may read and look 
atit, as an example for them to follow, and 
as a Monitor, to stimulate them to their duty, 
For ages, and generations, may pass away, 
without producing another Francis Asbury. 
Posterity, yet unborn, may have cause to 
praise God, that such a man ever lived. 
‘ Of his juvenile years, perhaps, it is not 
necessary to say much. In this sketch, of 
his life, you are not to expect a pompous 
detail of a splendid family ; nor a narrative 
of a dignified genealogy—He had no royal 
or noble descent, proudly to boast of; no 
affluent distinguished ancestors, vainly to 
speak of ; no dignitaries, statesmen, or court- 
favorites, as family connections, and patrons, 
to notice and push him forward into life, or 
raise him to honor, to fame, and promotion. 
With the blessing of God, by means of his 
own correct an F circumspect deportment ; = 
his diligent improvement, of his own mind 
and talents ; a wise application of his un- 
derstanding and ee to the best pure 


oe 


“J ‘ — , 2. 
Qe : . . | 


" ‘ , a 
" » and to accomplish the best ends; 


and, by a steadfast adherence to correct 
principles, and a virtuous perseverance in 
well doing, he rose to.a high reputation in 
society, and gained an eminent standing in 
the church of God; as a distinguished 
bishop, and a man of extraordinary useful- 
ness. ; 
His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Asbury, 
were not wealthy; but they enjoyed the 
comforts of common life. They were not 
much known in the world; but sustained 
the reputation of honest, industrious, and 
reputable poor people. His father, was em= 
ployed by two of: the most wealthy fami- 
lies, in the neighbourhood, in the capacity 
of farmer and gardener: the occupation 
which all our first parents followed. The 
superintendance, and cultivation of gardens, 
and tillage of the earth, was the first em= 
ployment of man. This appears to have 
been the occupation, or business, pursued by 
Adam. Perhaps, in the garden of Eden, 
and, afterward, in the adjacent or neighbour- 
ing fields. “In the sweat of thy _ shalt 
thou eat bread ; the Lord God sent him forth, 
JSrom the garden of Eden, to till the ground.” — 
Francis Asbury, was born, according to 
the best account we have, in the month of 
August, in the year of our Lord, Seventeen 
Hundred and Forty-five. Not far from. 


63 “ae 


Birmingham, in the parish of Handsworth, 
County of Staffordshire, England. His mo- 
ther was a.pious woman, and lived in the 
fear of the Lord. She, as all mothers ought 
‘to do, paid early attention to the education 
of her son ; especially, to his moral and re- 
ligious instructions. His mind, like the ten- 
der twig or scion, was early bent, and well 
inclined, by the moral precepts, and reli- 
gious examples, of his judicious and pious 
mother. He began to read the scriptures, 
about the sixth year of his age.. From his 
childhood, he neither dared to swear an 
oath, or to tell a lie. He felt an abhorrance 
at the vile mischief, and profane wicked- 
ness of other boys; whose evil company, 
and hateful practices, he avoided, as much 
as his situation in life would possibly admit. 
Such was the rectitude of his moral princi- 
ples; such was the effect. of prudent paren- 
tal instructions. 
Like Timothy, from a child, he knew the 
Holy Scriptures, which were able to make 
him wise unto salvation, through faith in 
‘Jesus Christ; and like Timothy, who had 
been taught by his grand-mother Lois, and 
his mother Ewnice, so he was taught by his 
mother Elizabeth, “ one of the tenderest of 
parents,” to fear God and keep his com- 
‘mandments. Noble, and worthy example ; 
which ought to be followed, by all parents, 


oe and preceptors of childrén. God will bless | 


Lo ee 


such parents, and their offspring. O, j 
rents! as little as ye may reflect on it, 
lay it to heart, the foundation of your chi 
dren’s happiness, or misery, for time, ant 
eternity, is, no doubt, often laid in the days 
of their childhood! Many parents, I eh 
will liave an awful account to give, im t 
great day of eternity, for their improper con- 
duct, in rearing up their children ; and for 
the neglect of timely, wholesome instruc- 
tion, and godly discipline. “Train up 


-child in the way he should go, and when he 


is old, he will not depart from it.” O, pa 
rents! reflect on your responsibility to soci- 
ety, your accountability to yout God, and 
your obligations and duty to your little ones 
their soils, as well as their bodies!- Take 
warning, lest your inconsiderate conduct, 
and improper dieci piney be accessary to the 


- ruin, and destruction, of your children, both 


here, and hereafter! Pious and timely at- 
tention, may lay the foundation, of their 


' present and eternal happiness! But to re- 


turn to Asbury. Sand 
~ About the usual age, of binding out boys: 


{ to business, according to the custom in Eng- 
land, he was put an apprentice, to learn a 
. mechanical trade; or a branch of business, 
in the art of working and manufactaring 
/inetals: like a Tubal-Cain, who was, “an 


65 

artificer in brass and iron.” Thereby, to be 
qualified to earn his own bread, and to get 
his own living, as a useful member of the 
community ; and to administer to his own 
wants, by the industry and labour of his 
own hands, in an independent and respecta- 
ble manner. Like a Paul, who had learnt 
the art of tent making, and thereby, his own 
hands were able to administer to his own 
wants and necessities. All children should 
be taught some useful trade, or business— 
It is supposed, that our Saviour himself was 
a mechanic. 

About the age of fourteen, Asbury was 
‘ graciously awakened to a clear and deep 
sense of spiritual and divine things ; to see 
the need of a Saviour, and the way of sal- 
/vation ; he gave himself rnuch to reading, 
to prayer, and to an attendance on the pub- 
lic and private means of grace. He, though 
young, was not disobedient to the heavenly 
visitation ; he yielded, he sought, and he 
found, pardon and peace, mercy and salva- 
tion, by faith, through Christ, in the days of 
his youth. Like young Samuel, Josiah, Timo- 
thy, and others, he “ remembered his Crea- 
tor in the days of his youth ;” and early de- 


dicated himself, his time, and his talents to 


the Lord. He joined the Methodist society, 

about the same time, and was so pious, 

humble, and circumspect, in his deportment, 
F2 


— 


—_< = 


that he gained, and retained, the utmost con~ 
fidence of the preachers and the ae 
which he uniformly maintained throughou 
his life. The venerable Bishop Whatcoat, 
who knew him well from the beginning, used. 
to relate, some interesting anecdotes of him, 
in evidence of his remarkable youthful so- 
briety, steady habits, and upright deport- 
ment, which arrested general attention. It 
used to be said, when he was a boy, “ Little 
Frank, generally goes to, and returns i 
meeting alone.” He was fond of solitary 
retirement. . 
‘He soon became a class leader, and made 
such impravements in his gifts and talents, 
that when he was about sixteen, or seven- 
teen, years of age, he was admitted, and au- 
thorised, by the consent and approbation 6f 
his brethren, to be a local preacher. His 
mind was greatly drawn out, with deep con-' 
cern, to warn sinners to flee from the wrath, 
to come ; and to point them to the Lamb of 
God, that taketh away the sin of the world. 
Now began his early gospel labours: He 
used to preach three or four times a week, 
visiting almost every place, within his reach, 
where there was an opening for him. On 
Sabbath days, and on week day evenings, he 
used to walk considerable distances, to pray 
with, and to preach to the people, and to 
exhort and wari them, to turn from their 


: . . * wa 
oe ae 
sins, and the error of their ways, unto the liv2 : 
ingand the true God, and to seek the salvatid#i 
of their souls. Thus early in life, in thé bicoin,- 
of youth, he “ gave diligence to shew himself 
approved unto God.” Amiable youth! God 
owned, and. blessed him aburidantly. ie 

It ought to be notec, and permit me to 
éall your attention to the remark; That; ge- 
nerally, those who have become the most 
‘eminent and distinguished, fof piety and 
usefulness, in the church of God, have béen 
of those, who embraced religion early in 
life; who remembered their Creator in the 
days of their youth, and devoted their time 
and their talents to God, while young. Oyyé 
young people,reflect on this, and lay it to heart! 
Now, in the bloom of your days, setout in res, 
ligion, be faithful to God, and take care of 
your souls !—That, if you should live to be 
old, you may look back upon a.well sperit 
life, devoted to pious and useful purposes! 
‘When déclining nature, under the weight of 

rears, is bowed down; or under affliction; 
shall be bending toward the grave; when 
your heads shall be frosted with age, and 
the snowy blossoms of grey hairs, bespeak 
the approach of mortality and death. Then, 
how inexpressible the pleasute ; how un- 
speakable the delight; how indescribable 
the consolation ; to be able £0.review a pi- 
ous life, from your youthful days, dedicated, 
to God, td religion, and to’a preparation for 


death and eternity! And, when borne down, 
with sickness, infirmities, affliction, or age, 
and you lay your heads upon a dying-pil- 
low ; then, to look forward, in the assurance 
of faith, with a well grounded hope, to an 
endless and uninterrupted felicity; o can 
describe, nay, who can conceive of, the un- 
speakable comforts and joys of such a trans- 
sili anticipation! O, that all my aged 
hearers, and those in middle life, had but 
the consolation, of reviewing the years, and 
the time that is gone, as having been spent 
in the service of God, and the work of re- 
figion! Permit me to warn you, this day, 
one and all, that you have no time to lose; 
death is on his way ; perhaps at the threshold 
of the door! “ Prepare to meet thy God, O 
Israel!” “No room for mirth and trifling 
here, if life so soon is gone!” 

After young Asbury had been labouring, 
as a local preacher, four or five years, then, 
about the age of twenty one, he gave him- 
self up, intirely to the work ofthe ministry, 
as an itinerant preacher. In the year of our 
Lord, 1766, at the Conference, in Leeds, he 
was approved, and appointed to a-circuit, as 
a travelling preacher, in .the Methodist 
connexion. Mr. Wesley, speaking of that 
conference, in his Journal, says, “A happi- 
er one we never had, nora more profitable 
one.” “It both began and ended in love, 


ow witha soleriin sense of the preseniée) df 
”» 

I am here disposed to netic, a pairtialie 
coincidence, of two remarkable events; that 
is, in the simultanious commencément of the 
regular, itirierant, ministerial life and la- 
bours, of Francis Asbury, with thé begin: 
ing and rise of Methodism, in America; 
or, the formation of the first Methodist so- 
tieties in this country; and the ,bé ginning of 
Asbury’s itinerant tainistry- Both of those 
important events to mankind, and to the cause 
ofreligion, took place, the same identical year. 
As though the Lord, inhis wise purposes, and 
benevolent designs, had raised up the man 
for the work, and prepared the work for thé 
man. It was in 1766, that Philip Embuty, 
alocal preacher, from. Ireland, formed the 
first methodist sociéty in the city of New 
York; and about the same time, Robert 
Strawbridge, another local preacher; from 
Ireland, formed a society, in Frederick coun 
ty; State of Maryland: That very same 
year, 1766, Francis Asbury, jomed ,the 
British conference, as aii itinerant preacher, 
and a gospel missionary. We may safely 
suppose, in the purpose of God, he was rais= 
ed up for the express design of beirig select- 
ed, and set apart, as the American apéstle; 
and evangelist to come over, in due time; to 
take the oversight and superintendance; of 


- : ’ ae | 


70 


the great and glorious work, at that tim 
beginning to take root, and to spread, 
America; and to evangelize the wilderne: 
and the solitary places in this “ New world? 
A certain passage, of sacred history, 
applied to a very different case, might per- 
haps, be applied, with some degree of pro- 
priety, on this occasion, to express the bene- 
volent purpose of God. “ Even for this same 
purpose, have I raised thee up, that I might 
shew my power in thee, and that my n 
might be declared throughout the earth.” 
“JT have appeared unto thee for this 0 
to make thee a minister and a witness.” 
“* He is a chosen vessel, to bear my n 
among the Gentiles, and the children of Is- 
rael.” ‘ 
I am inclined, under an impressive solem- 
nity of mind, to notice another remarkable 
circumstance; and to make afew observa- 
tions upon it. From the year of 1766, the 
time, when his itinerant ministry, and the 
glorious work in America, began, up to the 
year 1816, the time of his death, makes 
years; the half of one century, or a Jubilee. 
Among the Jews, by the order of God, the 
fiftieth year, was a year of release, a year ol 
return, a year of rest, that is, a Jubilee. 
They had their Sabbaths of days, their Sab- 
baths of years, and their Jubilees—“ Thou 
shalt number seven Sabbaths of years, seven 


71 


imes seven years, and the space of the 
even sabbaths of years, shall be unto thee 


hall be a Jubilee unto you. In the year of 
his Jubilee, ye shall return every man unto 
is possession.”—The Jubilee, may be con- 


en the saints of God, shall be released 
‘om all their toils, afflictions, labours, and. 
ufferings, their Jubilee will then commence; 
ey shall return to their celestial possessions, 
heir incorruptible inheritance, that fadeth 
ot away, reserved in heaven for them.— 
he application is plain. Asbury, had la- 
doured, and suffered, and toiled, as the ser- 
ant of the church, as the servant of all, his 
rty-nine years; this present year, 1816, was 
is fiftieth year in the public itinerant minis- 
; he is now released, returned, and dis- 
charged, from all his work, and afflictions; 
and has returned, and gone, to his inheri+ 
tance, and possession; and entered into the 
rest that remains for the people of God.— 
Hail! happy soul! “Thy year of Jubilee is 
come.—Thy grand sabbatic year, the Jubi- 
lee of heaven!” 
Let us now review the providential dis— 
vote im preparing a work and a field, 
or him to cultivate and superintend, im 
America; and his divine ‘call, to the work 
and peculiar qualification for it; and also the 


orty and nine years: The fiftieth year, it , 


idered as typical of the heavenly rest.— | 


admirable openings, directions, and 
sings of Providence, in bringing him to 
in keeping, supporting, and prospering 
in it. ‘ The first Methodist societies, forn 
in America, had no regular trayellin 
preachers, to take the charge and oversigh 
of them. ‘They were first formed, 
watched over, and, under God, taken care 
of, for a time, by local preachers. Yes 
brethren, let it be remembered, that the be- 
ginning of the great work of God, a 
us, by the divine blessing, was through th 
instrumentality of local brethren., Which, 
with other considerations, should lead us 
fespect, and esteem, the local preachers, ag 
a useful, ‘and most valuable order of men 
among us; to whom, the connexion, under 
God, is greatly indebted.. God has owned 
them, and he will own them; and we are in 
duty bound to own, and acknowledge them, 
as a constituent part of the ministry amon 
us. Then, “ Let us provoke one another ta 
love and to good works.” Keeping the 
unity of the spirit in thé bond of peace.” ~ 
- In New York, where the first society was 
formed, by Philip Embury, whose labours 
_ were crowned with success, they received 
_ considerable assistance from Captain Webb, 
a military officer, and Barrick master, at Al- 
bany; who being’ converted to God, became 
a zealous and useful preacher of the gospel; 


73 


d, singularly and strangely as it may ap- 
ear, sometimes preached in his regimental 
iform. Some of you recollect him, for 
e visited, and preached, in Philadelphia. 

e first time he went to the society room, 
n New-York, the members were consider~ 
bly surprised, and somewhat alarmed, at 
eing an officer, in his martial dress, enter 
ong them; not knowing but he might 
lave some unfriendly design toward them ; 
jor, at that time, they were a poor, despised, 
d persecuted people, and had but few. 
iends. But, when they saw him conform 
o their mode of worship, and devoutly join 
em in singing, and kneeling, and prayer, 
ey were, more than ever, surprised, and 
truck with astonishment, gladness, and joy. 
He united with them, and zealously used 
his influence and talents, to promote so 
good a cause. 

The society increased in numbers, in 
friends, and in strength ; so that in the year 
i768, they began to build the first Metho- 
dist chapel, in America; which is yet stand- 
ing, in John-Street, New-York. About 
that time, they made application to Mr. 
Wesley, to send over help; particularly some 
regular preachers to assist them, and to take 
the charge and oversight of the great work 
of God, then beginning, in America, to take 
root, and to spread. = the Leeds Confe- 


_ 


or 


74 


rence, in 1769, Mr. Wesley, mentioned thi 
case ; and two of the preachers, Richar 
Boardman, and Joseph Pilmoor, willing}} 
offered themselves for the service ; and a 
cordingly’ were appointed, and came ove] 
They were the first, regular Methodig 
preachers, sent to this country, by Mr. We 
ley. They landed here in Philadelphia, th 
latter part of the year 1769; and broug 
with them a present of fifty pounds sterlin 
as a donation to the society of New-Yor. 
as a token of brotherly love, toward payin| 
the expenses of the chapel, which they ha 
been building. Mr. Pilmoor, is now livin 
and a respectable minister of the Protestan 
Episcopal church, in this city, Philadelphi 
They preached, in New-York, Philadelphi 
and in various other places, both in town 
and country, north and south. During thei 
time, this church, St. George’s, where w 
are now assembled, was procured, as a Me 
thodist chapel; though, at that time, in > 


_ very unfinished, and poor condition. Som 


of you well remember, the times and cit 
cumstances of which I am speaking, and 
which, I can only give, on this occasion, a fet 
brief touches. Since then—O! what has Go 
wrought? what has he done torws, as a people 

In the year, 1771, at the August confe 


_ rence, held in Bristol, Mr, Wesley, propose 


sending more help to America. Franci 


75 


sbury, who had been travelling about five 
ears, and, having had great exercises about 
oming to America, then voluntarily offered — 
is services, aS a missionary, to.come over 
oO what was then, sometimes, called the 
new world,” to traverse the wilderness, the 
ountains, and the solitary places, to seek af- 
er the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The 
ffer was accepted, and he was accordingly 
pproved, appointed, and sent over. Pre- 
ious to that conference, he had his serious 
xercises, and leading impressions, perhaps 
divine call, that he should visit America. 
nd, does it not appear, that the great Shep- 
erd, and Bishop of souls, evidently design- 
d and purposed him for the work in this 
ountry? Had he not a call from God? 
Vas he not divinely directed, and providen- 
ially sent among us? 

It was at that conference, in Bristol, 1771, 
that the Revd. Mr. Shirley, and nine or ten 
others, met, to insist upon the recantation 
of certain offensive propositions in the mi- 
nutes, of 1770, and which, brought on the 
famous controvercy, before mentioned, in 
which, the extraordinary Fletcher, so pre- 
eminently distinguished himself. 

We have understood, that some of the | 
elder preachers, made some objections to 
Asbury’s coming, because of his youth, and 
want of more experience; but Mr. Wesley, 


76 


who well knew the man, his doctrines, mai: 
ner of life, talents, zeal, firm integrity, ani 
qualifications, for a Missionary, resolved t 
send him, into “ the new world,” so called. 
to seek after the lost sheep in the wilder 
ness, and to take the oversight of the soci 
~eties, and the work of religion, then spring: 
ing up, in America. “ Where the eyes a 
the blind were to be opened, the ears of the 
deaf were to be unstopped, the lame was t 
leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb 
was to sing. In the wilderness shall water 
break out, and streams in the desert—Th 
parched ground shall become a pool, and th 
thirsty lands springs of water.” 

He returned home, from the Bristol con 
ference, to take leave of his mother, and 
other friends, and to bid them all an affec- 
ting and final farewell. He said, “ It was 
grievous to flesh and blood, but was borne 
with divine assistance.”—After visiting, 
and parting with his friends, in Stafford- 
shire, and other places, he returned to Brisa 
tol; and on the second day of September, 
1771, he left his native country, which he 
was to see no more, to come and serve us, 
and the cause of religion, in the church of 
God. This was leaving all to follow Christ. 
In a perspective view, I can almost see his 
pious affectionate mother, ina flood of tears, 
Wweaping, while parting with her only son— 


yr 
_ 


: 7 


ever! no, never, to see his face again! How 
pilecting the scene? How heart rending, such 
parting, to see each others faces no more: 
In his journal, while on the Ocean, he 
writes, “‘ Whither am I going? What to do? 

To gain honor or to get money? No; Iam 
f going to live to God, and to bring others 
“so todo. If God does not acknowledge 
“me in America, I will return to England. 
“T know my views are upright—may they 
“never be otherwise! May my Lord pre- 
“serve me in an upright intention!”—He 
had his trials, and troubles, on the deep, as 
may be seen in his journal. 

On the 27th of October, 1771, he and 
Richard Wright, who came with him, land- 
ed in this city, Philadelphia; and in the 
evening, attended divine worship, . in this 
church, where we are now assembled, on 
the occasion of his death. Yes, where we 
are now performing the mournful solemni- 
‘ties of his funeral, was the place,-where he 
‘first met with a congregation of his Ameri- 
can brethren, “Who received him as an 
angel,” or a messenger of God. His first 
‘sermon, among ts, was preached from these 

very appropriate words—For I determined 

not to know any thing among you, save Je- 

sus Christ, and him crucified —And his se- 

cond was equally pertinent—For though I 

preach the gospel, Ihave nothing to glory. of: 
G2 


¥ 


bai 
*” 


“a 


for necessity is laid wpon mes yea, woe 1s wnto 
me, if Ipreach not the gospel. Here began 
his union, his labours, his cares, and- his | 
sufferings among us. Since which time, we. 
have fully known his manner of life; we have 
known him as a man, as a christian, as a | 
friend, as a minister, and as a general su] 
perintendant of the church of Christ. On 
Nov. 7th, 1771,he left Philadelphia on a 
Visit to New-York. He preached at Bur- 

lington, and other places, on his way, 

through New-Jersey, and Staten-Island. On 

the 12th of Nov. he arrived in York. He 

then began more: fully to enter into his 

American Missionary work. Richard Board- 

man, Joseph Pilmoor, and Richard Wright, 

were his colleagues; making, at that time, 

only four regular travelling preachers—It 

must, however, be recollected, that the local 

preachers, with whom the work first began, 

were useful helpers in’ promoting it; and 

were co-workers together with the itinerant’ 
preachers.. 

In 1773, Thomas Rankin, and George 
Shadford, came over from England; and, in 
1774, Boardman, and Pilmoor, returned.— 
In 1775, J. Dempster, and M. Rodda, 
came over; and, in 1777, Rankin, and Rodda, 
returned. In 1778, Shadford returned. Be- 
side those, who came from England, the 
ehief part of whom. returned again, there 


79 


ps» among ourselves, as labourers in the 
ineyard of the Lord. The fields were 
uly white unto the harvest, and the Lord 
ut it into the hearts of a goodly band of 
pious brothers, zealous young men, to turn 
ut, into the harvest of the Lord, as labour- 
rs, to warn sinners:to flee from the wrath to 
come. They went forth as flames of fire, as 
lights, in a benighted land. There was a 
Waters, a Ruff, a Gatch, a Garrettson, and 
many others, as will appear by the Minutes 
of the Conferences, who, one after another, 
entered into the work of God. There soon 
arose a cloud of witnesses, a little army of 
the soldiers of Christ, combined together, as 
of one heart,-and of one mind, to strive to« 
gether for the faith of the gospel; the weap- 
ons of whose warfare, were not carnal, but 
mighty through God, pulling down strong 
holds, high thoughts, vain imaginations, and 
whatsoever exalteth itself against God.— 
There was a great work to do, much preju- 
dice and powerful opposition to meet with, 
formidable difficulties to encounter, and se- 
vere troubles,. persecutions, and: conflicts to’ 
endure; sufficient to have discouraged men, 
who were not strong in faith, patient in hope, 
abundant: in love, and zeal; and of great 
courage, resolution, and firmness. But this 


united band, of faithful brothers, with am — 


vere a number of our own citizens, raised” 


WS enc 80 
Asbury at their head, pressed forward, | 
struggled on, and pushed through, fiery tri- | 
als, which were to try them, and did try | 
them, as though some strange thing happen- 
ed unto them; but they went on, rejoicing, | 
inasmuch as they were made partakers of | 
Christ’s sufferings. With patient persever- | 
ance, they faced a frowning world, as with | 
their lives in their hands, and braved every 
storm, and endured every tempest, either 
from the world, the devil, principalities and 
powers, or spiritual wickedness in high 
places. 

During the seven years, of the reyolution- 
ary war, between 1775, and 1783, they had, 
more especially, almost insupportable diffi- 
culties, violent oppositions, bitter persecu- 
tions, and grievous sufferings to endure. So 
many of the preachers being Englishmen; 
and Mr. Wesley, who was considered the 
founder, and chief ruler, of the Methodist 
societies, and his directions, opinions, and 
advices, having great influence upon their 
rules of conduct in America; and he being 
in England, and known to be a loyal man to 
his king, and of course, unfriendly to the 
American measures and revolution; these 
things, occasioned jealousies and suspicions 
to arise among many, that the aathodiaie 
were, politically, a dangerous people. Also, 
the moral views, the religious principles, and 


81 


the consciencious scrupels,of the people called 
Methodists, not being favorable, on general 
principles, to the spirit and practice of war; 
on this ground also, the temper and spirit 
of the times, combining with other prejudi~ 
ces and passions of the day, excited jealou- 
sies and suspicions, which occasioned an evil 
report, of alarm, to be raised and propagated, 
that the methodists, preachers and people, 
were unfriendly, and opposed, to the Ameri- 
can revolution} However untrue, or incor- 
rect, those inferences were, against the me- 
thodists, as drawn from the premises; yet, 
nevertheless, perhaps, some of them were 
to blame. I do not hesitate to admit the im- 
proper conduct of some. I feel no disposi- 
tion to conceal it, that a few of the preachers, 
were imprudent, and reprehensible, in some 
things; and gave too much cause for such 
suspicions. Rodda, in particular, acted im- 
properly, and quit the country, in 1777, un- 
der circumstances unfavorable to his repu- 
tation, as a preacher of the gospel, and 
hurtful to the cause of religion. Captain 
Webb, also, did not act so‘well as he ought 
to have done; as a christian preacher, nay, 
even as a British officer, his conduct was ex- 
ceptionable. Rankin, likewise, had spoken 


so freely, and imprudently on public affairs, 


that it excited jealous fears, that his op 
nions and influence would be of dangerous 


a 


82 


consequences to the American cause. How- 
ever, he left the country, in 1777, more 


_ honorable to himself, and not so hurtful to 


his brethren, ; 
We forbear to mention others. And, al- 
though I am not disposed, at present, to pass 
any judgment, or.to pronounce any sentence 
against them ; yet, I can make no apology 
for their imprudence and indiscretion, suffi- 
cient to justify them fully ; but, must view 
their conduct, as it was then considered, by 
Asbury, and others, as exceptionable and un- 
justifiable——But so it was, that the way of 
the preachers, on every side, was almost 
hedged up; and for a considerable time, it 
was with the utmost difficulty, and at the 
greatest risk, of personal safety, that they 
. 


‘Pa travel and preach at all. 


n 1778, when the times, perhaps, were 
about the worst, Asbury and Shadford, 
agreed, to make it a matter of fasting and 
prayer, for direction, in their straits and dif- 
ficulties, what to do; whether to stay in the 
country, or return to England.—After the 
season of fasting and prayer; Shadford, con- 
cluded, and observed, that he had an answer 
to leave the country, and return to England; 
but Asbury, who received an answer to stay, 
replied, “ If you are called to go, I am called 
to stay; so we must part.”—Accordingly 
they parted, to meet no more on earth. From ; 


83 


that. moment, he made America, his coun- 
try, and his home. He resolved to abide 
among us, and at the risk of all, even of life 
itself, to continue, to labour, and to suffer, 
with, and for, his American brethren}, 

Oppositions, reproaches, and persecutions, 

ushed in against them, from every quarter, 
| in various forms, like a tempest and a flood. 
During the whole period ‘of conflict and 
danger, his manner of life, was irreproacha- 
ble. His prudence and caution, as a man 
and a citizen ; his pious and correct deport- 
ment as achristian and a minister; was such, 
as to put at defiance, the suspicious mind, 
and the tongue of persecuting slander. They 
were never able to substantiate any allega- 
tion, or the appearance of a charge, against 
him, that was incompatible with the charac- 
ter of a citizen, a christian, or a faithful mi- 
nister of the gospel. He never meddled with 
-politicks. 

But in those days, of suspicion and alarm, 
to get a preacher, or a society, persecuted, 
they only had to excite suspicion, sound the 
alarm, and cry out, “ Enemies to the coun- 
try! or, tories!” To enflame the passions of 
hot-headed, and unreasonable men, they had 
toraise a clamour and drive on furiously, like 
Jehu of old, to put the mob into motion, and 
to excite the passions, to insult, to rudeness, 
or outrage; which is the work, generally, of 
ignorant, violent, or wicked men! If the 


84 a 


expression be admissible, I feel inclined to | 
use it, that, “I love to hate,” the principles, 
and the practices, of persecution, violence, 
and “mobs.” God deliver us from them 
all! The Methodists, at one period, were 
generally called tories, by those who either 
knew not the people, or the meaning of 
word. “a 
I am inclined to recite a few cases, as a 
specimen, of what the brethren had to en- 
counter, in those days of distress, that tried 
men’s souls, and put their integrity and firm~ 
ness, their stability and sincerity to the test. 
I shall not give a minute review, of all their 
persecutions and sufferings, throughout the 
States of the Union, The time and occa-~ 
sion, only admits, and calls for, a few brief 
statements. I shall principally confine my-— 
self to Maryland, my native State, where I 
was best acquainted, and where, probably, 
their sufferings were as great, perhaps great- 
er, than in any other State. The prejudices — 
of the people there, ran high, and some of 
the laws, to meet the exigencies of the times, 
were hard and oppressive ; and some of the 
rulers, and civil officers, appeared disposed 
to construe, and enforce, every apparent le- 
gal restriction, with rigor and oppression, 
against the Methodists, who were then, a 
persecuted and a despised people. 

Some of the preachers, were mulct or fined, 


85 


ad thrown into costs; and others were impri- 
oned, for no other crime, or offence, than 
velling and preaching the gospel; and 
thers, were bound over in bonds, and hea- 
- penalties, with sureties, not to preach in 
is, or that county. Several, were arrest- 
ed, and committed to the common county 
jail. Others, were personally insulted, and 
badly abused, in different ways—And some, 
were beaten with stripes and blows, nigh 
unto death, who carried their-scars down to 
the grave. Our aged and much respected 
brother, Freeborn Garrettson, now present, 
and sitting among us, knows the truth of 
these statements ; for he was then among 
them, and was, himself, one of the sufferers. 
He was, for preaching the gospel, commit- 
ted to prison, In one county, and severely 
beaten with blows, and wounded, even to 
the shedding-of blood, nigh unto death, in 
another. My father, and my brother Gar- 
rettson, you, with your fellow-sufferers, en- 
dured these things, for the testimony of Je- 
sus.—You yet live, but where are the others? 
Nearly all of your old colleagues, and suf- 
fering brethren, are gone to reap the reward 
of their labours and long-sufferings. “ These 
are they, who came through much tribula- 
tion, having washed their garments white in 
the blood of the Lamb.” 

To give a further view of those trying 

H 


— 


‘concerned, in. taking up, and committing 


scenes, and times of dist 
state a few prominent insté 
cular cases, to serve as @ sp men, . 
what our first preachers had to endure nd 
suffer, while first planting the gospel among 
us. In the city of Annapolis, the be 

the State, Jonathan Forrest, and 

Wren, and I believe at different times, twe 
or three others, were committed to jail= 
‘Three of the men, who were principal 


brother Wren, afterward became methodis ts, 
‘among whom, -was one of the magistrates, 
who wrote, or signed, the mittimus for h 
commitment. I knew them well, and 
never forget the serious and solemn ti 
when brother Wren and myself, with 
man who arrested him, in company, dine 

at the magistrates house, after they j ia 
the methodists. In Prince George’s c 

P. G. a preacher, was, by a mob, hel 
fully maltreated; “honored,” according to the 
cant of the times, “ with tar and feathers.” 
In Queen-Anns, Joseph Hartley, was bound 
over, in penal bonds, of five hundred pounds, 
not to preach in the county; Thomas S 

yet living, was one of his sureties.—In the 
same county, Freeborn poms weg was. 
beaten with a stick, by f the bc aie 
Judges, and pursued, xf he 

fell from his horse, and was apes 


87 


In Talbott county, Joseph Hartley, was 
yhipped, by a young lawyer, and was im-~ 
risoned a considerable time. He used to 
reach, during his confinement, through the 
brates, or window, of the jail, to large con- 
fourses of people, who, on Sabbath days, 
sed to attend to hear the prisoner preach. 
Chey frequently came, from ten to fifteen 
miles, to hear him, and even from other 
Ounties. His confinement, produced a great 
xcitement upon the public mind; and God 
bverruled it for good, tothe souls of many. 
hrist was preached, and numbers embraced 
eligion. Even his enemies, at length, were 
plad to have him discharged.—In Dorches- 
ker, Caleb Pedicord, was whipped, and bad- 
‘hurt, upon the public road; he carried his 
ars down to the grave——In the same 
county, brother Garrettson, was committed 
to jail._—In Caroline, a preacher (T. C.) was 
aken up in a lawless manner, and put into 
the custody of the sheriff, to be taken to 
jail; but there was no mittimus, for his 
commitment, nor any legal cause for his de- 
tention, or regular process against him; how- 
ever, the sheriff, prudently received him in- 
to his care and protection, from the rage of 
his enemies; and after giving him a hospita- 
ble entertainment in his own house, dis- 
charged and let him go.—In the same coun- 
ty, Joseph Foster, the father of Thomas 


' Foster, to the court, as stated to me by 


Foster, so well known to man 
brought before the court, a 
bar, and thrown into troubl 
costs. aha " Li 
Upon this last case, I feel inclined to stat 
part ofa short address, made by old b: 


self. Such a man, said he, has lodgec 
information against me, and upon oath 
said, that “he heard me preach the. gos} 
But, I am strongly persuaded, that he does 
not know what the gospel is; nay, I am con= 
fident that he does not, unless his soul is| 
converted to God; and of this, there are tht 

strongest reasons to doubt. For if his soul, 
was converted to God, he would not per: 
cute religion, nor lodge an information 
complaint, against a minister, for prea 
the gospel. Now, if he is an unconverte 

man, he does not know what the gospel is; 
and if he does not know what the gospel is, 
how could he swear, that he heard me 


_ preach it? And now, if he were interrogat- 


ed, before the court, I do not believe that 
he could tell, what the the gospel is, nor 
what he heard me preach. And if so, what 
does his oath amount to? If it be so, that he 
is an unconverted man, and ignorant of the 
gospel, a stranger to the subject, and unac 

quainted with religion, how could he <7 
that, I preached the gospel? = be asd 


89 


| In another case, where the witness was 
nterrogated—‘ Did you hear Mr. P. preach 
e gospel?” “IT heard him preach; butI do 
jot know, whether it was the gospel, or not.” 
ty What did he say, when you heard him?” 
“I cannot so recollect, as to repeat his 
ords.”—Mr. P. then proposed, by permis- 
ion, that he himself would tell what he had 
aid: for he was neither afraid nor ashamed. 
Liberty being granted—he then began, with 
he fall, the wickedness, and the guilt of man; 
€ proceeded, to the redemption wrought out 
or man by Jesus Christ; the offer of salva- 
ion, to perishing sinners; and then came on 
the subject, of repentance, faith, conversion, 
nd obedience to God; without which, hell 
nnd. destruction would be the portion of 
Very sinner: upon which, he was interrupt- 
pd, like Paul by a guilty trembling Felix, 
‘Stop! stop! we have enough of that!” How 
ard it is, for sinners to hear the truth? 

We might, perhaps, with propriety, notice 
some other cases, in the different counties 


and States, both north and south, of the Suf-_ 


ferings, both of preachers and members; but 
time would fail us, to be minute, in recitals 
and details. From. these brief sketches, 
some tolerably correct, though faint idea 
may be formed, of what our first preachers, 
and fathers, and brethren, had to contend 
with, to bear, to endure, and to suffer. O! 

- H 9 


= 


\ 


i 


—— 


ee Se 


,probably, had better pd deferred: ‘ll 4 
came on the head of long-suffering. — ay ut 2] 
hardly knew how to pass it over in th 
place: let it be kept in mind. 
During those perilous times, within vas | 
our Asbury? How was he emplopegy ; and | 
what was the manner of his life? After 
having travelled and preached at large, with | 
all the zeal, fidelity and caution, which prue | 
dence and- ~ wisdonal situated and circum: 
stanced as he was, could dictate ; he 
greatly embarrassed and perplexed, and y 
all, much suspected as an Poniaone il 
at length, to retire, in a great measure, for a 
season, until the indignation was overpast. 
The spirit of the times, the passions and the 
prejudices of the people, and the jealousies 
and suspicions subsisting against him, as an 
Englishman, and as a principal Methodist 
preacher, was such, that he could not, with 
safety, continue to travel openly and at large. 
in the year 1778, when the storm was at its 
highest, and persecution raged furiously, he, 
being in serious danger, prudently and a 
visedly confined himself, for personal safe- 
ty, chiefly to the little State of Delaware ; 
where the laws were rather more favorable, 


91 


d the rulers and influential men were some 
vhat more friendly. For a time he had, 
ven there, to keep himself much retired. 
ite found. an asylum, as his castle of safe- 
, in the house, and with the hospitable fa- 
mily, of his fast and firm friend, Thomas 
Inte, esq. one of the Judges of the Court, 
in Kent county, Delaware. He was a pious 
nan, and his wife one of the holiest of wo- 
en; they were great friends to the cause of 
eligion, and to ‘the preachers generally. 
rom this place of retreat and protection, 
jas in a castle of repose and safety, be could 
correspond with his suffering brethren, who 
Were scattered abroad, in different parts. 
He could also, occasionally travel about, 
visiting the societies, and, sometimes, preach- 
ing to the people. He was accessible, to 
all the preachers, and his friends, who came 
to see him ; so that by means of correspond- 
ence, and of visits, they could communi- 
lcate with each other, for mutual counsel, 
comfort, and encouragement. In some’ of 
their movements, they had to be very cau- 
tious and circumspect; for they were watch- 
ed, as the hawk watches the partridge on 
the mountain ; and as the wolves watch the 
sheep of the pasture and the lambs of the 
flock. It was about this time, that Shadford. 
and he, had their affecting and final parting, 
before Peagapned. However, his manner of 


3 et 


life, was such, as to sec 
ential and fast friends. A 


good tell, esteem; and nfidence, he 
ublic generally , and o} rincipal officers, | 
rt, chief riick of the ea os aah the se, 
whose particular frienc hip he secured, we 
might mention, with TIudge White, the. piot 
Judge Barreté ; both of whom, opened their, 
houses for the brethren as a home, an ‘pro= 
tected the preachers, and exerted their in 
fluence in support of the cause of religion. 
Each of them was instrumental, i in having a 
preaching-house built, in their respectivi 
neighbourhoods ; ; and which, to this day, 
are respectively called White’ s-meeting ows, 
and Barreit’s-chapel. 
We may also mention the late Richa 
Bassett, esq. well known, as a distinguish 
character, not only in that State, but in the 
United States.—At different times and pe- 
riods he filled high and honorable stations 
He was a Lawyer, of note, a Legislator, a 
Judge, and a Governor, in the State of Be 
laware. He was also,a member 6 the Con- 
vention which framed the constitution of 
United States, a Senator in test Co on= 
gress, and a Judge of the 1 Inited States’ 
Court, for the circuit, comp oo a 
Distri icts of Pennsylvania, News fersey, am 


= 93 


elaware. Their friendship, and confiden- 
jal intercourse, was mutual, intimate, and 
a interrupted, till death ; the one, only sur- 

viving the other, a few months. Bassett 
died the 16th of August, last, 1815, whose 
uuneral sermon, together with that of his 

m-in-law, the late J A. Bayard, esq. 
. died the same oe I preached, by 
the request of the family, at the same time 
and place. Asbury died the 31st of March, 
last, 1816, whose funeral discourse, I am 
now delivering.—I mention those names, 
and many others might be mentioned, if 
time would permit, as a tribute of respect 
due to their memory, in order to give an 
idea, how the Lord providentially, favoured 
Asbury, and his brethren, in raising friends, 
to open the way before them, that the word 
of the Lord might Be, forth as a lamp that 
burneth. 
_ Their friendship, asad patronage, not only 
extended to him, but to his suffering breth- 
ren generally, to the persecuted societies, 
and to the weeping cause of religion. Un- 
der whose fostering protection, and benevo- 
lent favor, bleeding Zion smiled in the 
midst of tears. This was the Lord’s doing, 
‘and it is marvellous in our eyes. 

They found Asbury to be, a plain, res- 
pectable, and intelligent man; a safe, and a 
good citizen; a circumspect, and a pious 


ehristion; a zealous, anc 
of the gospel; and w 
confidence, as a frie: 
choice, of which, he 
providentially, become 
found him ssocited 
plain, honest, at 
laudible work of 
- culcating religion, rate eid i 
ing, the morals, habits, and manners 
people. And what true patriot, who feared 
God, loved his country, and had a regard 
to the good of the people, could refuse to pa« 
tronise such men, thus Rass bi seve best 
of causes? Provided, they only had a know- 
ledge of them, and did but understand, their 
motives, their business, and their usefi 
‘ness? And who, pretending to any kind 
goodness, would not approve and encour: 
such philanthropic designs, and. such | piou 
laborious exertions, to revive, and spread, 
pure and undefiled hig ‘throu 1 ip 
land? 

The pi Governorof Delaware, though, 
I believe, no professor of religioi 
influenced. by those conside 
dry other motives of good will ar 1 
ship, toward Asbury, his brethren, 
friends, interposed nis kind ‘offices, as 
Governor, and wrote to the Executi or 
Governor of Maryland; »i in behalf tein 


95 


the suffering preachers in that State— 
nd, in consequence of which, they were re- 
pased from recognisances, or from prison, 
other Garrettson, who then was, in the 
hidst of all the times of distress, and now 
resent, must remember, what passed, be- 
veen himself, the Governor, and Doctor 
legaw, on one of those occasions.—For 


as made by the Governor of . Delaware to 

ve Governor of Maryland; and by virtue of 

hich, he was released, from his recogni- 

ance, in the case of his imprisonment, and 
onds in Dorchester. 

| Under all those embarrassing and per- 

lexing circumstances, and trying cases of 
uthorised and unauthorised persecutions, 

he preachers, with Asbury at their head, 

s their Senior, and leader, went on, public- 

7, and privately, im their indefatigable la- 

jours, with zealous diligence and patient 

erseverance. They counted all things, but 

oss, and their lives not dear to themselves, 

o that they might gain Christ, win souls,- 
md finish the ministry and work committed 

mto them. The Lord was with them, as 

hey passed through the fires and the waters; 

le supported their minds, and gave comfort 

o their souls, in all their perils and distres- 

es; he gave them grace sufficient for the 

vil days; and they won and gained souls for 


8, Was one, in whose favour an application’ — 


96 


their hire. They saw the pleasure 
Lord prosper in their hands—many we 
awakened and converted to God. This 
the midst of their sorrows and tears, 
joy and gladness to their own souls. © 

wilderness and the solitary places were gl: 
the parched ground became springs of 

and the desert flourished and blossomed 
the rose. The eyes of the blind were open 
ed, the ears of the deaf were unstopped, : 


lame leaped as an hart, and the tongue : 


the dumb sang aloud with joy. O, brethr 
with what gratitude and thanksgiving, 
we to bear in mind, the ceilayelee-caligcall 
the zeal, the perseverance, and the patience 
of our first preachers! What did they suffer, 


what did they endure, to prepare the way of 
_the Lord, and to make seca paths for 
our feet, smooth roads, and easy ways, for 


those who came after them! You who were 
not cotemporaries with them, and now are en- 
joying the fruits, advantages, and benefits, of 
their labours and long-sufferings, can scarcely 


conceive of their extraordinary trials, and 


severe warfare; nor of the vast difference 
between your situation and theirs. Their 
rough ways, have become smooth to us; their 
hard ways, are now made easy to us; and 
the crooked paths, they had to walk, have 
now become straight and plain for our feet. 
But, alas! Have we now among us, that 


97 


~ faith, zeal, love, humility, brotherly kind- 
ness, union of ‘spirit, deadness to the world, 
~ and holy living, which, so much abounded 
among them? Indeed brethren, I awfully 
fear!—I lived then, asa spectator, an obser- 
ver, and a witness; I live now, and stand as 
a witness yet, and probably, am able to bear 
testimony. 
This reflection, moves my tender feelings, 
‘excites an association of ideas, and produ- 
ces a train of contemplations, that awaken 
the mind, to a lively recollection, of interest- 
ing and affecting occurrences, which are 
past and gone, in the current of time; and 
have fled away, like the morning of our 
youthful days, no more to return forever! 
The remembrance of which, fills and over- 
flows the, sympathetic sensibility of the 
heart, with inexpressible emotions; all the 
tender passions and affections of the soul 
are strangely excited; my conflicting sensa- 
tions, I cannot well describe!—We can feel, 
when “we cannot speak!—we can feel, what 
we cannot utter!—we can know, what we 
cannot relate!—what shall I say? what do I 
mean?—Brethren, do you understand, do 
you know any thing of the paradox, of a 
heart rending satisfaction, of a joyful grief, 
a mournful comfort, a sorrowful gladness, 
a painful happiness, and a pensive melan- 
choly pleasure? Ifso, you may understand 


‘ 


98 


me, and enter into a view of my present 


feelings. “Our fathers! where are they?—_ | 


b ali | 


And the prophets! do they live forever?” — 

Elisha, said to Elijah, as he went up and left © 
him, “ my father! my father! and he saw him 
no more!”—Our Asbury, our fathers, our 


brethren, who lived before us, who laboured . 


and suffered for us, who brought us up like 


children, who gave and left us excellent ex- — 


amples, and with whom we have spent so 
many delightful seasons, in public and in 


‘private meetings, and in social interviews— 


they have left us behind, they have depart- 
ed in the Lord, we shall see them on earth 
no more! We ought to record their names, 
perpetuate their memory, and spread their 
fame abroad; for they were the excellent of 
the earth. They will not return to us, but 
we shall follow them. O, may we follow 
them in their excellent examples, through 
the regeneration here below, and follow 
them to heaven! Well may our hearts be 
full, our eyes be bathed in tears, and every 
sympathetic passion flow, like fountains of 
waters, in streams and currents, of intermix- 
ed joy and grief!—Surely, we shall be allow- 
ed to vent our sighs, and weep!—TIt needs 
no apology. When Lazarus died, and his 
sisters, and friends, were mourning, Jesus 


_ -wept—Behold, how he loved him! — 


99 


But to return to the historical and biogra- 
phical narrative. The more Asbury and 
the preachers were known, the more they 
gained friends—the more the people became 
acquainted with their doctrines, their man- 
ser of life, their purposes, and their designs, 
the more they approved, and the better they 
liked them. Their friends increased, in the 
midst of their enemies. 

1777, it was asked in conference, “ As 
the present distress is such, are the preachers 
resolved to take no step to detach them- 
selves from the work of God for the ensu- 
ing year?” To which it was answered,— 
“We purpose, bv the grace of God, not to 
‘take any step that may separate us from the 
brethren, or from the blessed work in which 
we are engaged.” I believe, that none of 
the English preachers continued in the 
country, longer than 1778, excepting Asbury; 
they fled from the troubles and distresses, 
and from the work; leaving, as it were, the 
sheep in the wilderness, among the wolves. 
Not so with Francis, he stood at his post, 
as a good shepherd, venturing himself and 
his all, for the sake of the flock. But the 
times and circumstances were such, that his 
name, I, believe, does not appear in the Mi- 
nutes of Conference for that year. It was 
a blessed thing, for the cause of religion, 
that he stood firm, and continued among us. 


i. 


100 
troubles and difficulties, w. without, the bre 


renhad some painful trials g the mselve 
About that time, a parti _ divisi 


Surely it was of the Long _ Among ms 


administration of the ordinances. In Vir- 


-_ginia, a part of the brethren, associated, and, 


for the sake of the ordinances, resolved on 
a separation from the old church of Eng. 

land; and they introduced ordination, and 
the sacraments, among themselves, as an 
independant, separate people. They pro- 
ceeded so far, as to occasion a partial divi- 


Sion, among themselves, foraseason. ‘Thi 


step, was disapproved of, and opposed, 

Asbury, and others; as irregular, unadvi- 
sable, and premature. In 1779, there were 
two conferences held; the first was in the State 
of Delaware, in April, for the convenience of 
the preachers in the northern stations, that all 
might have an opportunity of meeting in 
conference; for, at that time, it was not ad- 
visable for Asbury, Ruff, and some others, 
to attend in Virginia. It was also prepara- 
tory to the other conference, which was to 
be held in Virginia, in the month of May; 
and to guard against the separation, which 
at that time was taking place. The senti- 
ments of Asbury, and of the Delaware con- 
ference, were to be taken to the Virginia 
conference, by Wm. Watters. A brief 


101 , 
statement of which, may be seen in the 
Minutes for that year. That conference, 
renewed the appointment of Mr. Asbury, as 
the Superintendent, or General assistant, 
then so called. He was the senior preach- 
er among them, and had been originally 
appointed, by Mr. Wesley, to that office; but 

now, they renewed, and confirmed, his ap- 
pointment. 

In April, 1780, a Conference was held 
in Baltimore ; which, unanimously, disap- 
proved of the steps taken by the brethren in 
Virginia ; and resolved not to look upon 
them any longer as Methodists, in con- 
nexion with Mr. Wesley and themselves, 
until they came back into the union.—Re- 
quiring, as a condition, the suspension of 
their ordinations, and sacramental adminis- 
trations, and all to meet together at the next 
Conference, in Baltimore. Asbury, Gar- 
rettson, and Watters, were appointed to at- 
tend the Virginia Conference, in order to 
inform them of the proceedings of the Con- 
ference in Baltimore ; and to use their in- 
fluence, to prevent a further division ; and 
also to receive theiranswer. This mission, 
or duty, was performed successfully. Times 
were then growing better, or more mode- 
rate ; Asbury, and others, then could travel 
at large, in Maryland, Virginia, and other 
places, without ite ala 

2 


A} 


102 ; | 


In April, 1781, the Conference was held 
in Baltimore. After mature considerati 
close observation, and earnest prayer, they 
resolved, firmly, to discountenance a sepa- | 
ration among either the preachers, or the | 
people. The brethren, in Virginia, yielded — 
to the decision. | aa 

Thus ended the partial division, chiefly 
through the counsel, and influence, of As- — 
bury ; peace, among brethren, was restored, — 
and union established, both among the preach- 
ers and the people. It did not, however, 
appear to bea division of heart and af- 
fection ; but only of opinion about the ordi- 
nances, and of the measures to be pursued. 
—Love however prevailed. It was agreed 
upon, by mutual consent, to consult Mr. 
Wesley, and to follow his advice and coun- 
sel, upon the question of becoming an inde- 
pendent church, separate from the church of 
England. . 

In 1782, by virtue bi the Preliminary Ar- 
ticles of peace, hostilities ceased between the 
United States and Great Britaim—and in 
1783, the Definitive Treaty of peace was 
signed, ratified, and carried into full effect. 
The Independence of the United States, be- 
ing acknowledged, by Great Britain, and 
our civil and religious rights, liberties, and 
privileges, being established, and secured, 
and peace being restored again to the land; 
the state of things was amazingly changed. 


103 


In 1784, Mr. Wesley, who had been ap- 
plied to for advice and counsel, considered 
'the situation of the Methodist societies in 
| the United States ; and on mature delibera- 
tion, and calm reflection, advised, and re- 
‘commended, his American brethren, who 
were totally disentangled, both from the 
British civil government, and from the Eng- 
lish church hierarchy, that it was best for 
them, “to stand fast in that liberty, where- 


—And, he and us, being at full liberty, in 
this matter, to follow the scriptures, and the 
usages of the primitive church; he being 
clear in his own mind, took a step, which 
he had long weighed in his thoughts; and, 
not only advised and recommended his 
American brethren, but took a decided part 
in aiding them, to become a distinct and in- 
dependent church. Accordingly, he set apart, 
andappointed, Thomas Coke, Doctor of Civil 
law, late of Jesus College, Oxford, who was 
a regular Presbyter of the English church, 
and vested him with full Episcopal authori- 
ty, to come over to America on this busi- 
ness; and Richard Whatcoat, and Thomas 
Vesey, presbyters, to come with him ; and 
to confer ordinations, and to assist the Me- 
thodist societies, in becoming, and organiz- 
ing theniselves, an independent. church. 
At thesame time, herecommended the Epis- 


j 


with God had so strangely made them free.” * 


/ 


/| 


in law, and to hold the chapels, preachi 


104 


copal. form and mode of church gover “ 
ment; and that Dr. Thomas Coke, and Mr. 
Francis Asbury, be received, and acknow- 
ledged, as joint Superintendants, or bishops. 
The same year, Mr. Wesley executed th 

famous deed of settlement, or declaration, 
of one hundred preachers, of whom Dr. Coke 
was one, and first on the list, after the twe 
Wesleys, as members of the British Cor 
ference, in regular succession, to be know 


houses, and other property, in behalf of the 
connexion in Europe. Next to his brother 
Charles, no man stood higher, in the esteem 
and confidence of Mr. Wesley, than Dr. 
Coke ; and in America, no man stood so high 
vith him as Mr. Asbury. 
September 18th, 1784, Coke, Whatcoat, 
and Vesey, sailed from Bristol, for America; 
and landed in New York, the 3d of Novem- 
ber, following. Dr.Coke, and Whatcoat, leav- 
ing Vesey behind, hastened on to the south, 
‘with all expedition. On the 14th of the 
same month, November, they met Mr. As- 
bury, and about fifteen of the American 
eri at a Quarterly Meeting, held in 
arrett’s Chapel, Kent county, State of 
Delaware. I was then a witness, with my 
eyes, my ears, and my heart, of pne of the 
most solemn, interesting, and affectionate 
meetings. It was in full view of a large con- 


1035 


course of people, a crowded congregation, 
nena for public worship. While Dr. 
Joke was preachng, Mr. Asbury came into 
the congregation. A solemn pause, and deep . 
silence, took place at the close of the sermon, 
las an interval for introduction, and salutation. 
Asbury and Coke, with great solemnity, and 
much dignified sensibility, and with full 
hearts of brotherly love, approached, em- - 
braced, and saluted each other. The other © 
eachers, at the same time, participating in 
ne tender sensibilities of the affectionate salu- 
tations, were melted into sweet sympathy and 
tears. The congregation, also, caught the 
glowing emotion, and the whole assembly, 
as if divinely struck, with a shock of heaven- 
ly electricity, burst into a flood of tears — 
Every heart, appeared as if filled, and over- 
flowing, with love, unity, and fellowship; 
and a kind of ecstacy, or rapture, of joy and 
gladness ensued. I can never forget the af- 
ffecting scene. ee 
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was 
administered by the Doctor and Mr. What- 
coat, to several hundreds, and it was a bless- 
ed season, to many souls, while in the holy 
ordinance, they, through faith, discerned the 
Lord’s Body, and shewed forth his death, 
and were feasting on him in their souls, by 
faith, with thanksgiving. It is the more im- 
pressive on my mind, and affecting to my 


- Y 


recollection; for, at @ 
first time I ever pai 
per,-and the first tim 
was ever administe 
dists, in this coun 
_ Ordained preachers. 
_ by the particular request, aad: 3 
tion, of brother Asbury, and aor 
coupe ph some other Riper y Bon: 


HA ae to travel, nor, Yat aay tim 
- contemplated it. It was unsought, an 
I went to that meeting, perfectly un 
ed. With much diffidence, and great 
ance, I yielded to go; though pressed 
by my greatly beloved, and much este 
brother Asbury, and encouraged, and 

to it, by some of the other preachers 
brother W. Thomas, held up both his 
toward me, and in a loving and alarmin 
manner, addressed me, “ I warn you, in 
name of God, not to refuse! Ido not know. 
but your salvation depends it! Go 
has a work for you to do, and, h e has a 
you to it; and wo, be untoy ou prez 
not the gospel!”——That address, 
through me like thunder; pan hago 

I could say no more! They had some 
‘ledge of my deep exercises, about pre? 


_ 107 


x, and they believed that I was “ verily 
led to the work.” They having heard me 
conversation, and, in the close of meet- 


vs, a few times, exhort and pray, they ? 


sosed I had “a talent to be improved.” 

wever, I submitted; and, having obtained 
pof God, I continue to this day, witnessing 
h to small and great, that they should re- 
ut and turn to God. The Lord have mercy 
on me! my only hope for acceptance and 
vation, is in the mercy of God, through 
sus Christ my Redeemer! From that time, 

e especially, I have had a particular and 
imate knowledge of Francis Asbury, and 
manner of his life. We have had a confi- 
- intercourse, an intimate friendship, 
d union of heart. And it now gives me 
nsolation, to recollect, that the last time 
. met and parted, it was in brotherly love, 


the unity of the spirit, and in the bond of 


ace. His acquaintance, and his friendship, 
s long been a particular source of pleasure 
happiness to my mind. I can scarcely 
tain myself under the affecting recollec- 
s which crowd upon my mind. Being 
ch moved, I am almost ready to cry out, in 
spirit of lamentation, like David, when 
went up to the chamber and wept for Ab- 
lom—O, my father Asbury! Would God 
ad died for thee, O Asbury, my father! 
father! Butit is all over! The strongest, 
rest ties in life, must be broken! 


wars 5. 


ae ee 


meet in Baltimore, on the Christmas 
ing, to take into consideration, the proposal 
and advice of Mr. Wesley. — Intelligen 
was sent. off, to every part of the 
nexion. Brother Garrettson, was appoin 
to go ‘through Maryland, into Virginia, 
to give the information, to the south a 
west, and to call the preachers togethe 
The conference met, the 27th, o 
ber, 1784, and continued their delib 
and sitting until sometime in Jan. : 
It was unanimously agreed, that circ 
ces made it expedient for the Methodist ® 
_ cieties, in America, to become a separ 
body, from the church of England, of w 
until then, they had been’ considered 
members. ‘They also resolved to take th 
title, and to be known in future, by the nam 
of Tur Mrruopist. Eprscopat Cuurct 
—They made the episcopal office electiv: 
and the bishops, or superintendants, ae 
amenable, for their conduct, to the body C 
preachers, or to the General conference 
Mr. Asbury, though appointed by Mr. M% 
__ ley, would not be ordained, unless he wa 
~ chosen by a vote, or the voice of fe 
rence. He was unanimously elected, an 


109 


Dr. Coke, was also unanimously received, 
jointly with him, to be the Superintendants, 
or Bishops, of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
From that time, the methodist societies, in 
the United States, became an independant 
church, under the Episcopal mode and form 
of government—Designing, professing, and 
resolving “ to follow the scriptures, and the 
primitive church,” according to the advice 
and counsel of Mr. Wesley, and in perfect 
unison with the views, the opinion, and wish- 
es of Mr. Asbury. This step met with ge- 
neral approbation, both among the preach- 
ers and the members. Perhaps we shall sel- 
dom find, such unanimity of sentiment, in a 
whole community, upon any question, of 
such magnitude, proposed to be adopted 
by them. And do we profess, in our church 
povernment, and order, to be founded’ on, to 
be governed by, and to follow, the Scrip- 
tures, and also the usages of the primitive 
church? Well brethren, let us be careful, 
firmly to adhere to the good old way; and 
never depart from the Scripture rule! Let 
us continue to follow the best lights we can 
obtain, from the apostolick and primitive 
sages and customs, both as to doctrines, 
orality, discipline, and church govern- 
ment. : 

From the time that the church was con- 
stituted, and he was clothed with Episcopal 

K 


TE RN ty io le rE A, OE 


110 


functions, until the day of his death, which 
was more than thirty years, Bishop Asbury, 
continued to be, uninterruptedly, the he 
proved, the diligent, the indefatigable, and 
useful Superintendant of the Methodist Epis-| 
copal church, in the United States and the 
extensive territories thereof. He made it 
his constant, regular, and only business. 
Once a year, he, generally, passed through 
the widely extended bounds of his vast and 
important charge. He usually travelled 
about five thousand miles, annually ; and in 
his tour, generally presided in six, seven, or 
eight conferences ; fixed the stations and ap- 
pointments, of, from two to six hundred 
preachers ; ordained a great number of tra- 
velling and local elders and deacons ; and, 
likewise, had the general oversight of the 
whole connexion, and body of the church, 
amounting, at the close of his labours, to 
more than two hundred thousand members. 
—Beside all this, there were other ministe- 
rial cares and arduous labours—such as, 
public preaching; an extensive episto 

correspondence, business of divers kinds, 
with the trustees, of different churches, or 
societies, and the various other official mem- 
bers ; and in overseeing, less or more, the 
temporalities, and spiritualities of the whole 
church. To which may be added, his re- 
markable attention to, and constant diligence 


iti 


im social and family prayer, and religious 
conversations, admonitions, and counsels, 
wherever he went, and into whatsoever place 
or circle he came ; together, with his atten- 
tion to reading, to study, and to private and 
secret devotions, in promoting, and establish- 
ing, and maintaining, his own communion 
and fellowship with the Father and the Son, 
and to keep his own soul alive to God. 
Wonderful man! Every day, and every 
hour, almost every minute, appeared to be 
employed, and devoted, in close application 
to some excellent work and useful purpose! 
But he appeared to have nothing to do witle 
the things of this world, only as they pro- 
moted the cause of God. 

It might be too prolix, and tedious, in 
this discourse, to follow him minutely 
through all the complicated and diversified 
movements, and exercises, of his public and 
private life, from week to week, from month 
to month, and from year to year; in the 
great work of his own salvation, the salva- 
tion of others, and the good of the world. 
His manner of life, has been equalled by few; 
perhaps surpassed by none. I am confident- 
ly persuaded, to take him all and in all, that 
no man, in America, ever came up to his 
standard. I have many things in my know- 
ledge, and recollection, to say, which crowd 
upon my mind. I have known him well, and 


112 


I have known him long; and have a recol- 
lection and knowledge of so many events 
and circumstances in his life, and so — 
traits, in his excellent character, to form h 
biographical portraiture ; that, were I to in. 
dulge, in the leadings of my present feeling 
of respectful considerations, perhaps, I mi 
exceed the limits, prescribed by prudent « 
cretion, for the bounds of a funeral dis 
course. Heuce, I can only give you — 
slight descriptive touches, and brief s 
es, of his remarkable and extraordinary life 
In his annual visitations, and extensive 
‘tours, he was somewhat like the revolving 
seasons of the year, regularly, and periodi 
cally, constantly, and beneficially, comi 
and going, and returning again. Or, li 
the sun, in his daily and annual circuit ; con. 
‘tinually keeping his course, progressing 
through the hemispheres, and the degree: 
of latitude, in the different seasons of thi 
year ; diffusing light, and heat, and bene 
fits, to the world. I trust the similitude 
willnot be considered as chimerical, or mere 
ly fanciful; for the scripture justifies thi 
comparison in some degree—* Ve shine a. 
lights in the world—Ye are the lights of th 
_world-—The path of the just, is as the shining 
light, that shineth more and more unio the per: 
fect day.”—And the stars, which the Lorc 
held in his right hand, were the angels, 01 
the bishops, of the churches. 


113 


We find him like a herald of the Lord, 
passing through the different parts, and al- 
most in every part of the nation.—At one 
time we see him in the State of Maryland, 
then, he goes through Delaware, Pennsyl- 
wania, New-Jersey, New-York, Connecti- 
cut, Rhode-Island, Massachusetts, New- 
Hampshire, the Province of Main, Vermont, 
and away beyond the lines, and the Lakes, 


imto Canada. The King’s business requiring - 


haste.—We see him quickly returning, through 
other parts of York, and Pennsylvania ; and 
away he goes to the west, through Ohio, 


Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Western Ter-. 


ritories. Then away through Georgia, South- 
Carolina, North-Carolina, and Virginia, and 
back again he comes to Maryland. And 
all this extensive tour in the space of one 
year. And that, repeated, again, and again, 
from year to year. It is scarcely necessary 
to mention, what must be so obvious, that 
in performing such astonishing annual tours ; 
and in attending to all the vast variety of 
his christian, ministerial, and episcopal du- 
ties and callings ; he must have ae almost 
continually on the move ; and be diligently, 
as well as constantly employed. Flying, as 
it were, like the angel, through the earth, 
preaching the everlasting gospel. No sea- 
son, no weather, stopped him. Through 
winter’s cold, and summer’s heat, he press- 
K 2 


Se ae eee 


ae 


LAS SE 


ns 


114 


ed on. He was often in the tempest and the 
storm ; in rain, snow, and hail; in hunger, 
thirst, weariness, and afflictions. Some- 
times uncomfortable entertainment, with hard 
lodging and unkind treatment. 

Methinks, in a contemplative view, I see 
him, bending his missionary course, from 
the large cities, and populous towns, through 
the thick settled countries, until I behold him 

far away and over the hills. Climbing the 
lofty Blue ridges, and the towering Alleghany 
-Mountains, whose elevated summets, rise 
among the clouds. ‘“ I soaf, said he, but it 
is over the tops of the highest mountains.” 
Then to the distant and remote settlements, 
in and beyond the dreary wilderness! Tra- 
-versing the solitary and. gloomy valleys; 
crossing and re-crossing the dangerous nor- 
thern and western waters, which in rapid 
currents flow! I can almost see him on the 
desolate banks of the Lakes, and the rivers 
St. Lawrence, the Ohio, the Mississippi, 
and others, passing from shore to shore.— 
There he resorted, and there he was found, 
administering the word of life, in lonel; 
cottages, to the poor and destitute inhabi- 
tants. Sometimes, he had to sleep upon 
the floor, or on beds of straw, or not much 
better, in houses built of logs, filled in with 
clay, and covered over with bark of trees or 
wooden slabs. Sometimes, like Jacob of 


i15 


old, he had to take up his lodging in the 
wild wilderness, and open air; with the 
earth for his bed, and the sky for the cano- 
py; surrounded by the ravenous beasts of 
the forest, roaming and prowling for their 
prey; and by the fierce savages, of the de- 
-sert, wandering and searching for their vic- 
‘tims and game. He knew how to abound, 
among the wealthy, in populous cities, and 
rich countries; and how to endure hardship 
and want, among the indigent poor, in the 
barren mountains, the uncultivated wilder- 
ness, and other places of poverty. This was 
his manner of life, to spend and be spent, in 
going about, from place to place, like his 
Master, and the disciples of old, in doing 
good. Most excellent man; who can but 
admire him with reverence? 

At times, we find him in oppulent fami- 
lies, abounding with plenty, supplied with 
all the comforts, which wealth, friendship, 
and hospitable kindness could afford; at other” 
‘times, among those in the mediocrity of life, 
enjoying a competency, barely sufficient to 
_ supply the common necessaries of life; at 
other times, among the indigent sufferers, 
straitened and pinched in their circumstan- 
ces, and destitute of the means to make life 
comfortable; not only those who were sigh- 
ing under the griping hand of poverty, but 
also those, who were groaning under the 


a 


116 


hard and cruel hand of oppression and in- 
justice; and bowed deme the weight 
of complicated distresses, and afflictions.— 
The poor had the gospel preached to them. He 
cheerfully and willingly, condescended to men 
of low estate. Even the poor African race, 
in bondage and wretchedness, were not ne- 
glected by him; he attended to their forlorn 
condition, and taught them the way of life, 
of gospel liberty, and salvation. Here, in 
this manner of life, were found occasions 
for the exercise of long-suffering, faith, cha- 
rity, patience, and full empl nt for all 
the graces of the Spirit, and for sympathe- 


tic benevolence. 


’ When among the great, the honorable, 


and the rich, he manifested humility, im 
his prosperity; maintaining, at the same 
time, a dignified independence of spirit, 


without exaltation. When among the poor, 


and lower classes of society, he shewed a 
courteous condescension, and manifested 
content, and patience, in adversity. He 
went on through good report, and through 


evil report, among the rich, the poor, the 


wise, and the unwise; without partiality and 
without respect of persons. At all times, 


among all people, in all places,and upon all 
occasions, his aim was, to promote the cause 


of God; to be instrumental to the good of 
man, and to the salvation of precious souls. 


117 


Kr x 
/ His eye, appeared to be always single, and 
his whole body, soui, and example, full of 
‘light. He was one of the lights of the world; 
his light did shine bright before men, and they 
saw his good works. He was, a great, a bur- 

‘ning, and a shining light. 
Perhaps, it may not be necessary to speak 
of his literary attainments; though, proba- 
bly, some will expect it. It is understood, 
and admitted, that he was not distinguish- 
ed as a scientific, or literary Scholar. He 
was not considered a critical Linguist; nor 
as being eminent in the arts and sciences. 
He made but little pretention to either; and 
never sought to rank with the Literati.— 
Though languages, arts and sciences, ought 
‘to be encouraged, and, no doubt have their 
various excellent uses; yet, nevertheless, 
they are not the essential, nor pre-eminent 
qualifications, of an apostolic, primitive, or 
modern, christian minister, or bishop. The 
scriptures are clear and full on this point.— 
The apostles were not learned men. We 
are also informed, that many of the primi- 
. tive fathers, were not learned men. Even 
the great, and celebrated Mugustine, Bishop 
of Hippo, did not understand Greek; and, 
his cotemporary, John, Bishop of Jeru- 
salem, did not understand Latin. Those 
two noted and eminent bishops, in their in- 
tercourse and correspondence, had to have 


118 


an interpreter; of course, there was no one 
language, which they both understood; ei- 
ther Latin, Greek, or Hebrew. Other cases 
might be recited, in different ages and na- 
tions, to shew, that much learning, was 
not considered as an essential qualification, | 
to be a minister of the gospel or a bishop. 
Although we admit, that our late Bishop, 
did not pretend to much literature, and that 
he did not stand high in the ranks of the 
Literatie; yet, he had some knowledge of 
the learned languages, and was able to read 
and consult the Holy Scriptures in their ori- 
ginals. He was conversant with, and de- 
lighted in, his Hebrew Bible, which he al- 
most continually carried with him. 

In the early part of his life and ministry, 
more especially, he gaye himself diligently 
to study, and to reading; and had acquired 
a considerable stock of useful informationand 
knowledge. He had an acquaintance with 
the necessary branches of polite literature; 
of natural and moral philosophy; ancient and 
modern history, both profarle, civil, and eccle- 
siastical; also of Geography, Biography, Lo- 
gic, Rhetoric, &c. He hadanextensive know- 
ledge of the world, of men, and of the na- 
ture of things. But he shewed no disposi- 
tion to make a display of his knowledge, his 
talents, or his learning. He never, with soli- 
citude or ambition, sought after fame, dis- 
tinction, or popularity, among the men of 


119 


this world. His greatest ambition was, to 
be useful, and his greatest solicitude was, to 
save souls. Yo shew himself approved unto 
God; a workman that needeth not to be asha- 
med, rightly dividing the word of truth. He 
studied, he meditated, on these things; he 
gave himself wholly to them. He took heed 
unto himself; and also, unto his doctrines; he 
continued in them, that, in so doing, he might 
both save himself and them that heard him. 
Of all his studies, there was one, especially, 
which was always dear to him, which he 
never neglected, and in which he was con- 
tinually delighted, and never ceased to make 
an improvement in, unto the latest period of 
his life. It was, the study of the Bible, the 
Religion of the Bible, christian and ministe- 
rial duty and usefulness. In this christian 
science, this evangelical philosophy, he 
made a very extraordinary proficiency, and 
was equaled by few,perhaps surpassed by 
none.—Let us all, deligently study, this 
Curistran Puitosopuy. 

__ His manner, of preaching, was well known. 
His language was good, his manner agreea- 
ble, his matter excellent, and his voice me- 
lodious. “ But, (copying after the apostle) 
his eloquence did not usually consist in the 
splendor of pompous language ; nor the ar- 
tificial flowers of refined and polite orato 
ry; but in the grandeur of the sentiments, 


120 


and the sublimity and excellence of the di- 
vine truths he uttered. His addresses were, 
generally, plain and simple; yet energetic, 
carrying with them the impressive authori- 
ty of truth; and admirably tempered with 
the gentleness of christianity, self-posses- 
sion, modest intrepidity, and humble bold-. 
ness ; and, most commonly, consisted in a 
judicious selection of choice matter, to suit 
the occasion. It was neither his study, nor 
custom, to use artful strains of disingenuous, ) 
or unintelligible declamation, to amuse and. 
tickle the fanciful imaginations of those who 
had itching ears. It was not his object to 
shew, by smooth and. well turned periods, 
and all the studied artificial graces of rhe- 
torick, how handsomely he could speak ; nor 
did he seek, in all the beautiful elegance of 
attitude and elocution, to gain the admira- 
tion of the listening multitude; but rather 
to manifest, how well, how truly, how con-. 
vincingly, and how feelingly and pungently 
he could address himself, to every man’s con- 
science in the sight of God ; that, thereby, he 
might gain souls for Christ. Every thing, 
bombastic, in the pulpit, all artificial rhap- 
sody and affectation, all pompous display of 
theatrical oratory and eloquence, he pate 
discarded. He was careful, not to pr 
himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and him- 
self the servant of all, for the sake of Christ. 


121 


He was, however, sometimes, rather abrupt 
and obscure, owing to the suddenness of his 
transitions and digressions; and his method, | 
frequently bore the appearance of the want 
of attention, and correct arrangement ; this 
was discoverable, or rather apparent, in his 
epistolary correspondence, and conversa- 
tions, as well as in his extemporary public 
preaching; but this supposed neglect, and 
apparent irregularity, or defect, was, some~ 
times, made more impressive, and more 
touching, than the most lucid and critical 
order, or the most ingenious and methodi- 
cal arrangement. It was not his custom, 
nor design, politely to compliment christia- 
nity, by bestowing on it flattering eulogies, 
splendid panegyricks, and fanciful flowers, 
and ornaments of rhetorical eloquence. But 
rather, to pay it a profound homage and re- 
verence, and to recommend it to others, and 
to enforce it, in all its own intrinsic excel- 
lencies, its divine beauties, native simplici- 
Pe and great plainness. May we not 
urther say, in the language of an eminent 
writer, that, he was too devout to be inge- 
nious, too earnest to be fanciful, too humble 
to be inventive? That his sober mind, could. 
discern no real analogy, between the sublime 
truths of christianity, and the little arts of 
refined human accomplishments? Did he 
ever sooth, where it was a duty to give r@- 
L ; 


122 


proof? Did he not consider that aharsh truth, 
which tended to benefit a soul, had more be- 
nevolence in it, than a dangerous pleasing 
palliative? He was not guilty of that mis- 
chievous compassion, and solicitude, of pre- 
ferring the ease and applause, of his friends 
and the people, to their safety and benefit. 
He was studious to awaken every guilty 
conscience to a sincere contrition; but he 
was just as ready, and earnest, to heal the 
pangs of a wounded spirit, by an application 
of the Balm of Gilead, and to administer the 
cordials of consolation, and the oil of joy ta 
thos¢-who had received the spirit of mourn 
ing. Dignity, simplicity, independence, and 
godly Sincerity, accompanied by a ministe< 
rial, evangelical authority, were admirably’ 
united in his manner of preaching. He was . 
very little elevated by applause, or depress- 
ed by reproach ; but, with Paul, could ex- 
claim, as with a noble disregard to perso- 
nal considerations, Jone of those things move 
me; neither count I my life dear, so that ¥ 
may finish my course with joy, and the minis- 
iry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, 
to testify the gospel of the grace of God! 

His manner, of ruling and governing the 
church, we have fully known. Perhaps, we 
might, with propriety, say of him, what Livy 
said of Cato, “ You would suppose, that he 
was born for the very place and thing, in 


123 


which he was employed and engaged.” We 
might point you to his manner of presiding, 
in the annual and general conferences; his 
method of precision, and decision, in sta- 
tioning and fixing the appointments of the 
preachers; his solemnity, and manner, in 
ordaining deacons, elders, and bishops; and, 
probably, he ordained more ministers of the 
gospel, than any other man living. The field 
of his administration was large. His work 
was great and complicated; the trusts com- 
mitted to his care, were numerous and im- 
portant; the power and authority, given to 
him, and vested in him, as bishop, in the 
executive government of the church, put him 
in a critical responsibility to God, to the 
church, and to all his brethren. We might 
notice a thousand transactions, in his man- 
ner of ruling the church, and governing his 
charge; which would be interesting, enter- 
taining, and instructive, in the particular 
and general, public and private, execution of 
discipline, and in the exercise of his episcopal 
functions, and authority; but for these I must 
refer you to the biographical historian of his 
life; who, I trust, will do ample justice to 
his character and memory. 

It has, however, been objected by some, 
“that he had too much power; that more 
authority was vested in him, than was con- 
sistant with the safety and security, of the 


124 


rights and privileges, of the ministry, and of 
the membership, of the church of Christ; that, 
had he been so disposed, with the authority 
and power he possessed, he could have op- 
pressed his brethren, driven them from the 
work, or, have imposed on them burdens 
and hardships, incompatible with the genu- 
ine principles of christian liberty, and the 
rights of man.” It has also been objected, 
‘“« That he was too fond of power, and too 
tenacious of maintaining his authority, and 
of supporting his power.” As to those ob- 
jections, this is neither the time nor the 
place, to repel, rebut, defend, or controvert 
them. However, it may be proper, in this 
part of the subject, to bring them into view; 
and, by way of accommodation, I have no 
difficulty in admitting, honestly and candid- 
ly, that the objections, when considered on 
general principles, are too well founded. 
But, is there not an apology, sufficient to 
-extenuate the supposed fault contained in 
the objections? Perhaps, no other man, 
could be equally justifiable, in wishing, or 
claiming, or exercising, the same degree of 
authority in the church; and, probably, the 
conferences will not consider themselves 


justifiable in admitting, or granting, the same 
power to any other.({ Bishop Asbury, stood 
as a father, and as 4 patriereht; con- 


nexion. ‘The preachers, and the members, 


125 


were nurtured, and brought up under him, 
like children by a parent; they were in the 
habit of being directed by him, and of look- 
ing up to him, with filial affection, and pe= 
culiar reverence, and of rendering a respect- 
ful submission to him. As sons, and chil- 
dren, in the gospel, they felt their obliga- 
tions to him, as toa father. They had also 
experienced his parental care over them, and 
proved his fatherly solicitude for their pros- 
perity and welfare. He was, to the Ameri- 
can connexion, like the patriarch Jacob, to 
the tribes of Israel. The venerable Wesley, 
“was, as the Abraham, the father of the Me- 
thodist community; and Asbury, as the Ja- 
cob, to the American So . 

No other man, can ever possibly stand in 
the same relation to us. Tous, he was like 
| a Moses, who led us out of Egypt, through 
the wilderness, toward the promised land. 
And from him, the servant of God, we re- 
ceived, as it were, the tables of the law. 
So we were in the habit, and practice, of be- 
ing led, directed, and instructed by him. It 
cannot be expected, in the nature of things, 
that any other, can possibly have the same 
influence and authority. A brother, cannot 
reasonably, have the same influence and au- 
thority over brethren, that a father had over 
his sons. Perhaps, under the circumstances 
of the case, no man, could, in any situation, 

T 


“ha oe 


126 
* 


be more justifiable, in claiming and exercis« 
ing, his influence and authority, over a reli- 
gious community ; unless we except the ve- 
merable Wesley. And, probably, no com- 
munity, cou e more justifiable in yield- 
ing, with cheerful submission, than in the 
_case under consideration ; unless we except 
the English connexion, to Mr. Wesley. I 
suggest these considerations, not by way of 
opposition or vindication ; but, by way, of 
amicably stating the case, to your conside- 
rations, and as an extenuation, of the sup- 
posed fault, in the estimation of the objec- 
tors; who would appear to attach blame, 
both to our late Bishop, for claiming, and to 
the Conferences for granting, and submitting 
to, so much power in one man. Perhaps, 
he was rather too tenacious, and might have 
shewn rather too much solicitude on the 
point in question. Ifso, no doubt, it was, 
because he thought it was for the best, and in 
the order of God; and, was fully persuaded, 
that it was right, and conducive to the pro- 
motion of religion, and the good of the 
church ; as being providentially put into his 
hand, for that purpose, by divine direction. 

But, in what manner did he exercise his 
power? When, and where, was the man, 
possessing so much influence, and invested 
| with so much authority, that ever used it to 
i better purposes, for the good of others: and 


127 
* 

so little to selfish advantages ; so little to- 
ward his own bodily ease, earthly honor, or 
worldly profit? Who ever exercised his. au- 
thority and influence more disinterestedly, 
in the spirit and temper of an apostolic and 
primitive Bishop?) As Crowther observes, 
in his Portraiture of Methodism, ‘“¢ May he 
not be said, to have (had) the largest see of 
any bishop in the world? yet, many curates 
have larger salaries ?” His diocess, extend- 
ed from Canada, and the other British pos- 
sessions to the North and East, unto the 
Spanish possessions, the Floridas, and Mex- 
ico, to the South and West, fifteen hundred, 
or two thousand miles in length; and from 
the Atlantic to the Mississippi and .Louis- 
iania, East and West, the best part of one 
thousand miles in breadth. Including all 
the United States, and the extensive terri- 
tories thereof. And he generally went 
through this whole district, once every year. 
And, instead of a salary of hundreds, or 
thousands, which scarcely satisfy the crav- 
ings of some ordinary secular priests, com- 
mon parish ministers, or lucre-loving bi- 
shops; he, as a bishop, with all his authority, 
though in labours more abundant, contented 
himself with the small allowance, of Eighty 
Dollars a year, and the amount of his tra- 
velling expenses ; he demanded, he request- 
ed, he asked no more. 


128 


/ He was Not greedy of filthy lucre, he was 
‘ blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, 
‘ apt to teach, not given to wine, not a novice, 
he had a good report of them who were with- 
out; one who ruled well, and knew how to 
take care of the church of God. For, a bishop 
must be blameless, as the steward of God ; not 
self-willed, not soon angry ; but a lover of hos- 
pitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy 
temperate; holding fast the faithful word, 
that he may be able, by sownd doctrine, b 
to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Did | 
ever a bishop come nearer to the apostolic 
standard, since the primitive days? Let 
every bishop, and every minister, examine 
himself, and regulate his conduct according- 
ly, by the rule laid down, in the scriptures, 
for Timothy, Titus, and others to follow. 
What a certain writer said of St. Paul, 
we may here apply—“ He was a conqueror; 
he had gained the most splendid victories; 
and still, during his probationary state, he 
considered himself only in the road to sal- 
vation; still he never thought of slackening 
his course, or diligence; he thought not of 
resting; he had not reached his end. His re- 
solution rose with his trials and afflictions, he 
was not intimidated; his grand solicitude 
was, that himself and others, might not lose 
the ground they had gained. He never 
sought, whilst he never shrunk from danger. 


129 


is straight forward rectitude, neither court- 
td the applause, nor despised the good opi- 
ion of men. As Paley said of Paul, “ the 
oolness of his head kept pace with the 
armth of his heart.” That prudence which 
s a-kin to selfishness, that discretion which 
leans. to craft, that candor which tends to 
indue pliancy, that wisdom which is sensu- 
and earthly, he never sought, and had not 
cquired. ‘ No desire of pleasing, no fear 
f offending, prevented him from delivering 
holesome truths, because they might be 
Vas That which Burke said of the 
Marquis of Rockingham, we may with 
more propriety say, of Asbury, “ His vir- 
tues were his arts.” 

Perhaps no man ever adhered more lite- 
ally and more punctually to the scripture 
recepts respecting prayer. Pray without 
easing, pray always, pray evermore, men 
mght always to pray, with all manner of 
rayer, and supplication in the spirit, watch- 
ng unto prayer &c. He had maturely con- 
idered the nature and subjects of prayer, 
he obligations, the utility, and the indispen- 
ible duty and necessity of prayer, in every 
tate, and situation, of body and mind, and 
n every condition of life. In danger, pray- 
sr was his strong hold for safety; in trouble, 
srayer was his resource for comfort; in sick- 
ness, it was his refuge; in dejection, his 


wary 


130 

hope; in death, his support and consola 
He was importunate in prayer, incess 
supplications, and unwearied in his addres 
ses, and applications, continually to the| 
throne of grace; making his requests known,| 
in all things to God, by supplication and 
prayer, with boldness, faith, confidence, and 
humility. He was truly a man great and 
wonderful in prayer. His access to the' 
throne of grace + emarkable, his gifts i 

prayer were astonishing, and he appeared t 

address himself to God, in his intercessions 
with much assurance of faith. Ask and ye 

shall receive; the fervent effectual prayer of 
a righteous man availeth much with God.— 
Perhaps, no man ever devoted himself more 
frequently, more fervently, and more de- 
voutly, to prayer, than he: , 
' Those who have had the pleasure of his 


/ acquaintance, the benefit of his visits, and 


the happiness of entertaining him in their 
houses, fully know the manner of his life; his 
holy living, his pious deportment, his godly 
examples, his religious conversations, his de- 
vout prayers, and his zealous, earnest, and 
affectionate, both admonitions, among pa- 
rents, children, servants, and visitors. The 
recollection thereof, fills your hearts with j 
and gladness, that you ever knew him, an 
were blessed with his company and friendship, 
under your roofs, and in your families; but, 


131 


¢ affecting consideration, that you will 
er be favoured with the pleasure and be- 
t of his company and presence there 
gain, fills your hearts with overflowing sor- 
w. Ah! my beloved friends, you will see 


ssively, and more emphatically, than lan- 
age can describe! 

Time would fail me, to be more minute 
pon all the rules, maxims, customs, forms, 

d modes, of his extraordinary manner of 
ife; as a man, a christian, a minister, and 

superintendant of the church of Christ.— 
t would lead me too far beyond the ordinary 
imits of a funeral discourse. I must now 
s on, and take a brief view of the closing 
ene, and the end of his life! 

I have had my eye upon him, and kept 
im in view, and followed him through the 
vicissitudes, and complicated cares, duties, 
and labours of life. But now, I have come to 
a2 point, and arrived at a place where he 
disappears: I lose sight of him, and come 
to a solemn pause! a sudden stop!—I stand 
and look, with fixed attention, and weeping 
pyes! We see him no more! I raise my 
rembling hand, and point toward the sor- 
rowful, the mournful place of lamentation, 
where his course was finished, and his dis- 
finguished journey in life was enged! Shall 


132 


” 


I direct your attention, and call your pen- 
sive minds, to the mourning house of his 
old friend, George Arnold, in ee | 
Virginia? There he was; he disappeared;| 
and there we losthim! There, the scene was 
closed! There, on that spot, he ceased 
labour, to suffer, to breathe, and to live! It 
is finished, it is done, it is ended! He fella 
victim to death, and triumphantly yielded 
his spirit to God! He conquered, though 
he died! In the midst of splendid victory, 
he fell into the arms of his adorable Saviour! 
Shall we repair to the place where we lost 
him, to the house of lamentation, to the si- 
lent grave, and weep with those that weep? | 
Where have they laid him? Surely some 
Monument will be reared, to designate the 
spot, where the remains, the bones, and the 
dust, of the venerable Asbury, are Cf gre 
His name, and his manner of life, should 
be recorded on vellum, and engraven in 
marble; that generations yet unborn, after 
we shall all be sleeping with him im the 
grave, may point at the record and say, 


* Since the discourse, of which, this.contains the sub- 
stance, was delivered, the official members of the Me- 
thodist Episcopal church, iv Baltimore, by and with 
consent of the General Conference, have had the relick 
of the Bishop, removed to Baltimore, and deposited, in 
a respectable situation, at the Eutaw Chureh. This 
respectful attention, does honor to the memory of Bishop 
Asbury, and te themselves. i 


133 


* There is the testimony, in remembrance 
of the great, the good, the wise, the exem- 
plary, the laborious, and the memorable 
Bishop Asbury.” While he lived, his life, 
and labours, were bestowed on the public, 
and on the church; and now he has gone 
down to the grave, posterity may say, in the 
language of an eminent statesman, and ora- 
tor, of ancient days. He has received a 
praise that will never decay, a sepulchre 
that will always be most illustrious;—not 
that in which his bones lie mouldering, but 
that in which his fame is preserved; to be 
on every occasion, when the honor, the fidelity, 
the laborious deligence, of the gospel minis- 
‘try, is the employ of either words or actions, 
“Eternally remembered!”—No glory, no re- 
nown, is comparable to that of doing good; 
and of all the various kinds of good, that we 
can do, that is pre-eminent, which has res- 
pect directly to the benefit ‘of the souls, and 
spiritual state of mankind: Their holiness 
and happiness in time, and their endless fe- 
licity in eternity! 

Thow hast fully known, my doctrine, man- 
ner of life, and, My puRPosE. ‘The purpose 
of man is essentially connected with his 
manner of life. In speaking of one, we must 
occasionally touch on the other. Our mo- 
ral virtues, and their contrary vices, gene- 
rally receive their stamp and type, from the 

M 


134 


purpose of the heart. A t proportion of 
the << and vice, RR need and evil, 
in life, depend directly, or indirectly, upon 
the purpose, the design, or the intention of 
the mind. According to this, we act; and 
among the various objects of choice, make 
our selection, with respect to the courses and 
measures, to be pursued, in order to accom- 
plish the end we have in view. Hence, base 
purposes, have a tendency to lead to base 
actions: the evil man, from the evil treasure, and 
purposes, of his heart, bringeth forth evil 
things. On the other hand, correct and up 
right purposes, lead to correct and upright 
actions: the good man, from the good treasure, 
and purposes, of his heart, bringeth forth good 
things. 

The word purpose, signifies the resolu- 
ion of the soul to do a thing, the intention 
of the mind with respect to any thing, the 

‘design and motive of the heart in our ac-. 
tions, and the end or object we have in view 
to be accomplished by our actions and pur- 
suits in life. Now, what was the resolution, 
the intention, the design, the motive, the’ 
object, the end, or the purpossg, of the ve- 
nerable Bishop Asbury? Examine his whole 
deportment, and conduct; his actions, his 
pursuits, his doings, his objects and his ends 
im view, to be accomplished; and what do 
they. speak? (Retrospect and investigate his 


1335 


public and private life; look into all his move 
ments and transactions, withmen and things, 
in the world, and in the church; view the 
bearing, the relation, the connexion, the ten’. 
dency, of all his pursuits and measures; his 
privations, self-denial, mortifications, long 
sufferings, and arduous toils and labours; 
and who can hesitate a moment, to say, that 
his puRPosEs, must have been noble, bene- 
volent, pure, and holy? , 

We have had the most indubitable evi- 

ences, of the honest sincerity, and strict in- 
tegrity of his soul, and the purity and up- 
rightness of his designs, intentions, and mo- 
tives. He always appeared to aiga at the 
greatest good, and the best end, and at. the 
best means to accomplish the object; follow- 
ing the last and best dictate of his under- 
standing, according to the clearest light, the 
best evidence, and the most correct infor- 
mation he could obtain. On this principle 
and basis, his pure purpose stood, and from 
it he was not to be moved. tile was siead- 
fast, immoveable, and always abounding, in 
the work of the Lord. Wo cross, no danger, 
no suffering, no labour, or toil, would hin- 
der, or turn him aside, where, he conscien- 
ciously believed that duty called him,) Nei- 
ther honor nor reproach, riches nor‘poverty, 
friends nor enemies, ease nor pain could in-. 
fluence or deter him from his straight for- 


— 


136 


ward course. Inflexible integrity, and ho- 
nest sincerity, appeared to be incorporated 
with all his purposes, plans, arrangements, 
and pursuits. It must however be admit- 
ted, that in him there sometimes appeared a 
flexibility of manner; a change of opinion 
and measures; but, while this manifested an 
openness of mind toconviction, upon receiv~ 
ing new light, further and better informa- 
tion, or from the evidence of experience; it 
proved that he was not perverse, stubborn, 
or obstinate in his own opinions. However, 
he combined his change of opinion and mea- 
sures, with an inflexibility of principle, and a 
firm comsciencious rectitude of intention and 
purpose: A change of opinion, or measures, 
is no change of principle. 


/ You see that I have no intention to say, 
or even to intimate, that he never erred in 


judgment, and in the actions of life. Nay, 
I admit, and I believe, that he fdealile 
did err in opinion ; and that from an error 
of judgment, he sometimes erred in practice. 
We have known him to be convinced; and, 


/ yielding to conviction, candidly to acknow- 


ledge that he had been wrong; and then 
honestly to correct himself. His aim was 
to follow the light of truth, to think, to speak, 
and to act right. This was evidence of an 
upright purpose of mind ; and is mentioned, 
and. considered, as being respectful and ho- 


Jue qenfar tie 
Peg tom * 


norable to his memory. Is it not a max- 
im in theology, in ethicks, and philosophy, 
That a good man will always be open to 
conviction from the light of truth? And will 
gladly relinquish error, in sentiment or prac- 
tice, upon a conviction of wrong, by the evi- 
dence of truth? Is it not honorable, dignified, 
and virtuous so todo? And, is not the opposite 
disposition bothmean and criminal? “ Aner- 
ror of judgmentis no corruption of principle.” 
Anerror of judgment and opinion, only shews 
the infirmity and fallibility of man, in the im- 
perfections of his intellectual capacity, and is 
thecommon frailty of all, even of the wisest, 
and of the best. But corruption of princi- 
ple, shows a vile depravity of the human 
heart, a criminal baseness of mind, and a 
diabolical defection of the moral principle 
of the soul; and can only dwell in the bo- 
som of unrighteous and wicked men. There 
is all the difference imaginable, between an 
error of opinion, and the criminal, wilful in- 
tention of the mind. 

(Mr. Wesley, in his treatise on ‘ Chris-_ 
tian Perfection,” admits, that the most holy 
christians, perfect in Christ Jesus, are lia- 
Bley-and subject, through the infirmity of the 
human understanding, to error of opinion, 
and from the error of judgment, are liable, 
also, to errors of practice. From a num- 
ber of cases in scripture, we plainly disco- 

- M2 


~~ 


138 


ver, that some of the most distinguished 
apostles, and eminent saints, were, in some 
instances, much mistaken, and fell into errors 
both of opinion and practice. Paul and Bar- 
nabas, once, widely differed in their opinion, 
and that difference of opinion, led them to 
adopt and pursue different lines of conduct; 
both could not be correct. Also, Paul and 
Peter, two of the most distinguished apos- 
tles, came to a pointed opposition ; ZF with- 
stood him to the face, because he was to be 
blamed.—Two opposites, cannot both be 
right. Hence, we learn, that good men may 
differ in opinion, and be mistaken; and we 
ought to learn prudence and caution, how 
we censure, or implicate, or even suspect, 
other men’s upright intentions, or purity of 
purpose, merely because they differ from 
us. Possibly, we may be wrong ourselves; 
who art thou, that judgest another? Judge 
not that ye be not judged. And, even where 
an error is evident, either im opinion or. 
practice, in things not essential, nor clearly 
decided by the word of God, we ought to 
remember, that charity will cover the mul- 
titude of faults. The best and the wisest 
of men, may err and differ; yet, neverthe~ 
less, be upright and holy in purpose, and 
pure in their designs and intentions. 


/ ~Few men were more correct both im sen- 


( timent and practice, than bishop Asbury; 


/ 
‘A 


a 


and none more upright and pure in their in- 


139 


tentions and purposes. We might view his 
early purposes in life, and follow him, in 
the leading designs of his soul, through the 
various stages of life; and what were his 
objects, his motives, and designs ? and what 
induced him through life to pursue the ex- 
traordinary course he did? Passing over 
his ordinary concerns in life, and things of 
minor importance, we may direct our atten- 
tion to his purpose, in the ministry of the 
gospel, as an itinerant missionary, for fifty 
years. What induced him to encounter, the 
hardships, perils, reproaches; labours, and the 
sufferings, connected with that manner of life? 
What purpose, led him to leave his native 
country, the “tenderest of parents,” and all 
his other connexions and friends, and cross 
the stormy ocean, to come over to a strange 
land and serve us? I wili briefly recite some 
of his own words, while on the waves of the 
Atlantic, in 1771, as recorded in his Jour- 
nal. “ Whither am I going? To the New 
World! What todo? To gain honor or 
to get money? No!—If I know my own 
heart, I am going to live to God, and to 
bring others so ‘to do. I know my views 
are upright ;. may they never be otherwise ; 
may my Lord preserve me in an upright im- 
tention! Oh! how I wish to spend all my 
time and talents for him, who spilt his blood 
for me! I feel my spirit bound to the New- 
World, and my heart united to the people, 


a a 
though unknown to me; and I have great 
cause to believe, that I am not running be~. 
fore Iam sent. I feel a strong desire to be 
given up to God ; both body, soul, time, and 
talents! In this, I comfort myself, that I 
know my intention is upright, and that I have 
the cause of God at heart. But I want to. 
stand complete, in all the will of Ged. My 
spirit mourns, and hungers, and thirsts, after 
entire purity. Many have been my trials 
in the course of this voyage, from want of. 
a comfortable bed, suitable and proper pro- 
visions ; from sickness, and from men, igno- 
rant of God. But all this is nothing. IfI 
cannot bear this, what have. I learned ?— 
When I came near the American shore, my 
very heart melted within me, to think from 
whence I came, where I was going, and what 
I was going about. May God Almighty 
keep me as the apple of his eye, till all the 
storms of life are past! Whatever I do, 
wherever I go, may I never sin against God; 
but always do those things that please him!” 
In those expressions, and observations, in 
his Journal, written with his own hand, 
while on the great deep, he has stated his 
purpose, intention, and motive, his object, 
and end; which was to please and glorify 
God, to win and save souls, to be a servant 
to all for Christ’s sake, and, to secure for 
himself, not worldly honors, riches, ease, 


144 


applause, or pleasure, but, an incorruptible 
inheritance, an unfading crown of glory, and 
eternal life. Throughout the course of his 
life, he appeared to adhere to the same un- 
deviating purpose of soul; not to accumulate 
earthly wealth or treasure; not to gain 
worldly applause, honor or fame; not to seek 
bodily ease, gratifications, or pleasures; but 
to follow Christ through much tribulation, 
and to secure, and lay up for himself, trea- 
sures in heaven, where moth and rust do not 
corrupt, and where thieves do not break 
through and steal. Also, his purpose was, 
to use all his talents, his time, his influence, 
and his labours, prudently and diligently, to 
the best advantage, and to accomplish the 
most excellent designs, in the promotion of 
the cause and honor of God, and for the sal- 
vation of man. He gave himself, and all he 
had, and all he was, to this great business; he 
lived for nothing else. He was so far from > 
se¢king the things of this world, that he 
carefully avoided every occasion that might 
lead him into a temptation of the kind; he 
guarded against every snare and entangle- 
‘ment, every allurement and inducement, 
every contract and engagement, that had a 
tendency to draw him, from his great work, 
. into the spirit, and temper, of the world, or 
into the maxims. and customs of the men of 
this world. He aimed and endeavoured to 


142 


bring every thought into captivity to the obe- 
dience of Christ. He did not live to him- 
self, he sought not his own; but his purpose 
was, to glorify God, to exalt the Saviour, 
to promote religion, to save souls, and to 
preserve the unity, the fellowship, and the 
peace of brethren, His purpose, was, also, 
to drive away schism, false doctrines, and 
evil practices; and to maintain sound whole 
some doctrines, good order, regular governe 
ment and proper discipline. 

To accomplish those objects, what sacri- 
fices would he not make? What enjoyments 
would he not forego? What crosses would 
he not bear? And what labours and suffer- 
ings would he not undergo and endure? No- 
ble spirit! elevated mind! benevolent heart! 
heavenly purpose! The fixed unalterable pur- 
pose of his heart, the invariable bent of his 
mind, the constant solicitude of his soul, 
was, to promote and advance the interests 
and honor of the Redeemer’s kingdom. For 
this he lived, for this he travelled, for this he 
preached, for this hé superintended, and for 
this he laboured and suffered, in faith, and 
patience, till life sunk, and he expired, be- 
neath the load. How far, his pious purpose 
was accomplished, is pretty well known to 
haye been extensively great, and even be- 
yond his own expectations. The recital of 
which we must now leave. 


145 ee. 


e 

Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner 
of life, purpose, and My FaiTH. Faith, is par- 
ticularly connected with doctrine, manner of 

ife, and ose. Doctrine, laysthe founda- —__ 

tion of the system of our religion; faith, in 
those doctrines, is the principle that puts the 
volitions of the mind into action, and forms 
the purposes, or the motives of the heart, and 
produces obedience to the injunctions and 
precepts founded on those doctrines; and thus 
regulates and governs the actions and the 
manner of life. So that, while we consider 
faith, we must of course, occasionally refer 
to doctrines, and to manner of life. 

The term Faith, literally and simply, sig- 
nifies a conviction and confidence of the 
mind, or a belief and assurance of the soul, 
on the authority of testimony, and force of 
evidence; that a proposition, or doctrine, is 
certainly true. Hence I may observe, with- 
out entering minutely, or elaborately, into an 
exposition and illustration of the extensive 
question or subject of faith, generally, that 
a divine faith, has for its objects, a divine 
proposition, or doctrine, accompanied by 2 
divine testimony, or supernatural evidence; 
under the influence, force, and authority of 
which, the mind receives a conviction, and 
confidence, that the divine doctrine fs true. 
Similar remarks might be made with respect 
to any other faith; corresponding in name, 


144. 


and nature, with its objects, and evidences; 
whether historical, philosophical, or theolo- 
gical. Whatever the proposition or doctrine 
is, itrequires testimony, or evidence, corres- 
pondent with its nature, to support and 
and prove its truth. All faith implies a cre- 
dent capacity, or moral faculty, possessing 
power to believe; for we cannot do that, for 
which we have no ability; and it would ap- 
pear, that there is also a capability to with- 
hold, orto yield the consent of the mind, to 
the truth of a proposition; otherwise, we 
could not, as free agents, be accountable for 
faith, or unbelief. A good and benevolent 
Being, would never require and demand, 
under severe penalties, that of us, for which, 
no ability, or power, was ever given us to 
perform, or even to choose; and which of 
course, would be impossible for us to do, far- 
ther than necessity was laid upon us. In cases 
of necessity, or impossibility, there cannot 
be a free agency, nor any accountability, and 
of course, neither vice nor virtue, neither 
rewards nor punishments, upon principles of 
justice and mercy. QFaith, also signifies a 
doctrine, or proposition, as an object, or 
CREDENDA, to exercise the eredent capacity 
upon. It likewise implies, testimony or evi- 
dence, to prove the truth of the doctrine, 
whether human or divine, as the case may 
be, to the conviction and belief of the ra- 


il ei 


 ” 445 


tional mind.” Thus under the influence of 
evidence, the mind receives conviction, that 
the proposition or doctrine is true, and the 
credent capacity, less or more, exercises 2 
confidence or belief, in the truth of such 
doctrine. ‘Fhen the fruits and effects of 
faith, will follow, in our life and conduct; mm 
proportion to the strength of our faith, ac- 
cording to the nature and importance of the 
thing believed, and in proportion to the de- 
gree of interest we feel, or purpose to take, 
in the subject matter of the truth of the 


doctrine believed. I conceive that this will 


apply to all faith, whether historical, specu- 
lative, temporary, philosophical, secular, le- 
gal, or evangelical. Hence it will follow, 
that saving evangelical faith, is the volunta- 
ry exercise of our rational, moral, credent. 
capacity, in the firm belief of the truth of 
God in Jesus Christ; under thé influence, 
and authority, of divine testimony, and evan- 
gelical evidence, set home, with divine pow~ 
er, upon the soul; and producing a supernatu- 
ral conviction,or the witness of God, upon the 
heart and mind; from which, the fruits of righ- 
teousness, spring up and grow, both in the 
heart and life. Faith cometh by hearing, and 
hearing by the word of Ged. Faith is the evi- 
dence of things not seen, the substance of things 
hoped for. With the heart man believeth unto 
«ighteousness, Faith works by love, and purifies 
N 


Sli Rt i ON 


ea bit aes 
146 ba 


the heart. Faith, if it hath not works is dead. t 
will shew thee my faith hee In the 
Methodist Magazine, it is said, “ Believing 
right, may have a hundred different mean- 
ings; faith, in general, is, a divine evidence 
of things unseen” In Hervey’s pemremss. 
dation of Marshall’s Gospel mystery of 
ification, it J id,.in.a.note, “ We 
must not expect to have faith, wrought im 
us, by some fatality of supernatural operas 
tions, without any application or endeavour 
of our own.” Faith, though an act of our 
own, in the believing of God’s truth; yet, 7 
does not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the 
power of God. cia | 
‘The term faith, is sometimes applied to 
the tenets, doctrines, and articles of any be- 
- lief ; which are called the faith of those who 
hold and believe them. In this sense, there 
is the Pagan faith, the Mahometan faith, 
the Jewish faith, the Christian faith, and the 
apostle even speaks of the faith of devils, 
they believe and tremble; thereby distinguish- 
ing one system of doctrines, of religion, of 
sects, and of sectarian and party opinions, 
from another. In this sense, it was, that 
Paul “ preached the faith which befere he 
destroyed ;” that is, the gospel, and the 
Christian religion, ‘¢ Contend earnestly for 
the faith ;” ‘Be sound in the faith.” At 
other times, the term faith, signifies, fideli- 


~ wy, a4 


147 


ty, veracity, honesty, and diligence, in per- 
forming engagements, in executing trusts, 
and in fulfilling obligations —Taking the 
gospel faith, or the Christian faith, in all its 
evangelical significations, objects, evidences, 
excitements, exercises, fruits and effects, up= 
on the heart and life, as spoken of in the 
scriptures of truth, and how does it divinely 
stand, in glorious opposition to, and in clear 
distinction from, the faith of Pagans, of 
Mahometans, and of all other men of cor- 
_rupt minds, who are given up to strong de- 
lusions to believe a lie; and. being to every 
good work reprobate. Lord preserve us in 
the faith of the gospel, and keep us from in- 
fidelity, licentiousness, and delusign! Away 
with false systems of faith: (ee 
The venerable Asbury, in tHe scriptural 
sense of the word, in the evangelical mean- 
ing of the term, as it ‘relates to the objects, 
the exercise, and the blessed fruits of faith, © 
was firm, strong, clear, and unfeigned in the: 
faith of the gospel. The life that he lived, 
in the flesh, was by the faith of the Son of 
God. He stood steadfast, and he walked 
circumspectly in the faith; he prayed, he 
preached, he laboured, he suffered, and he 
died, triumphantly in the faith. He, con- 
stantly and perseveringly defended, support- 
ed, and maintained the faith. We have ful- 
ly known, how eminently he lived, in the 


148 


exercise, the comforts, the victories, and the 
fruits of faith, in his ovat and manner 
of life. He let his light’so shine before | 
men, that others saw his good works, flow- 
ing from a living faith; and by the influ- 
ence of his example, of obedient faith, many 
were brought to glorify God. We seldom 
found so great faith, no, not in all Israel. 
Brethren, We are saved by grace, throug 
faith, and that, not of ourselves, not of wor 
it is the gift of God. Our salvation, by 
grace, through faith, is God’s gift; and '\God 
be thanked for the unspeakable gift. It is: 
God’s gift, that we obtain salvation at all, 
even by grace through faith. It is through 
the free grace of God, that salvation is ten= 
dered to us, and that we are enabled, and 
capacitated, to believe, and to receive Christ, 
by faith, and to believe to the saving of the 
soul ; and to bring forth the fruits of righ- 
teousness in the practice of piety and holy 
living. Faith, when without works, is dead, 
being alone, without piety, without holy liv- 
ing; or too often, by men of perverted minds, 
itis reconciled to, and associated with, deeds 
of darkness; sucha fruitless, or licentious faith, 
is called an antinomian faith, and it is abo- 
minable to God, and to all good men. 
Works without faith, is only self righ- 
teousness, and is called pharisaism; denying 
the necessity, and being destitute of commu- 


V4 
r) a 


a 


nion with God, and fellowship with the Father 
and the Son. But that faith, which, unfeign-— 
edly embraces all the truths of God in Je- 
sus Christ, “‘ which, takes God at his word,” 
and which produces. good works, in obe- 
dience to all the doctrines and precepts of 
the gospel, in holiness of heart, and purity 
of life, may truly be called “.evangelical 
faith.” Without this faith, how is it possi- 
ble that we can please God? And without 
this holiness of heart, and purity of life, 
this experience and practice of religion, so 
as to please God, how can we be accepted 
of him? And if we do not please God, and 
are not accepted of him, how is it possible 
for us to be saved? He that believeth not, 
‘shall not see life; but, all things are possible 
to him that believeth—This is the victory, 
that overcometh the world, even our faith. 
The just, shall live by faith. May God make’ 
us faithful unto death! 0, Lord! increase 
our faith! Make us strong, unfeigned, vic- 
torious, and triumphant in the faith! O, 
that we may all live and die in the faith of 
the Son of God! Glorious conquering faith! 
Oh, Asbury! Great was thy faith! Whose 
faith, let us follow. 

Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner 
of life, purpose, faith, and MY LONG-sUFFER- 
inc. It must be very obvious, that on this 
part of the subject, we shall have. to reca~ 

N2 


149 


150 td Sl se ii. | 


© touched upon, in the manner - 
Long-suffering, is one of the most impor- 
tant traits, and striking features, in the chris- | 
tian manner of life, and closely connected 
with purpose, faith, charity, and aa 
Long-suffering, signifies, to bear a long ti 
_ to endure, to undergo, to feel a sense of pain, 
to support ; and not to sink under oe 
injuries, troubles, labours, and persecutio 
and to pass through them, with resign: 
patience, composure, meekness, and forti- 
tude of soul. 
The Long- suffering of Paul, is recorded 
at large, with his manner of life, in the Acts 
of the Apostles, and in his own Epistles. 
He renounced ease and security, and sacri 
ficed fame and worldly glory, and encoun- 
tered perils and hardships, by land and by 
sea; he had stripes, bonds, and 1 im rison- 
ments ; watchings, weariness, painfulness, 
and want of apparel; necessities, hunger, 
labours, persecutions, and afflictions ; among 
‘the Jews, the Gentiles, and false brethren; 
and withal, had on him, daily, the care of 
all the churches: But his consolation was, 
L count not the long-suffering of this present 
time, worthy to be tec the glory, 
which shall hereafter be revealed. “If we 
* suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with 
him,” “ Rejoice, inas much as you are made 


pitulate, or notice again, some thin S, a 


, eo 


i 


4 


-partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when — 
' his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad 
also with exceeding joy.” Ifany man suf- 
fer as a christian, let him not be ashamed, 
but let him glorify God.’ For our light af- 
fliction, which endureth but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eter- 
nal weight of glory.—Observe, and O, my 
soul rejoice! For affliction, there is glory ; 
for light affliction, a weight of glory ; for 
light affliction, which endureth but for a mo- 
ment, a weight of glory, far more exceeding 
and eternal! ‘* Wherefore, let them that 
suffer according to the will of God, commit 
the keeping of their souls and bodies unto 
him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 
They that live godly in Christ Jesus, shall 
‘suffer persecution. “If we suffer with him, 
we shall also reign with him.” Hallelujah! 
Let us stand in our lot, and while we suffer, 
let us rejoice in hope of the glory which 
_ shall hereafter be revealed! Our suffering 
time will soon be over. : sigh? 

It may not be necessary to give a minute 
or particular detail of the complicated long- 
sufferings of our departed venerable Friend. 
In his Journal,»on certain trials he says, 
“It was grievous to flesh and blood; but, 
when others suffer so much for temporal in- 
terest, surely I may suffer a little, for the 


glory of God, and for the good of souls.— 


Be " 
i 
Oh! what would not one do, what would 
not suffer, to be useful to souls, and todo — 
the will of his great Master! The more 
troubles I meet with, the more convinced I _ 
am, that I am doing the will of God.” “I 
expect trouble; this I expected when I left 
England, and I am willing to suffer; yea, to 
die, sooner than betray so good a cause! I 
am in trouble, and more trouble is at hand. 
No cross, no suffering I decline; only let all 
my heart be thine’—He had his infirmities, 
reproaches, necessities, persecution, tempta~ 
tions, trials, sorrows, and sufferings; of di- 
vers kinds, from different quarters, and in 
various degrees; these he bore in their regu- . 
lar gradations, not merely with common = 
signation, but with joy and triumph; no 
with submission only, but with gladness and ~ 
glory. ‘“ Most gladly therefore will I rather 
glory in mine infirmities, that the power of 
Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I 
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, 
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for 
Christ’s sake.”” He suffered himself, as cou- 
ragiously as he taught others to suffer. 

Only review his manner of life, on which, 
in its place, we dwelt at considerable length, 
yet all that was there said, only gave an 
epitome of his life, and brief touches on his 
trials and long-sufferings. Take into con= 
sideration the multiplicity, and diversity 


.- 
oes 


ya eee 
ée 153 - ee 


= and conflicting scenes through which 
" he passed, both among friends and enemies, © 
in prosperity and adversity, in good report 
_and evil report, in health and sickness, in 
” fatigues, toils, afflictions and distresses; also 
reflect upon the multitude and magnitude of 
his arduous labours, his complicated cares, 
his extensive journies, his great exposures, 
by land and water, in the wilderness, the 
mountains, and the solitary places; his con~ 
flicting trials, his*perplexing-temptations; to- 
gether with his critical responsibility toGod, 
_ to: the church, to the mimistry, and tothe =~ 
world; only let the amplitude of thought, 
embrace one general and comprehensive 
view of him, in all his circumstances, situ- 
ations, movements, and employments, in his 
tempestuous and dangerous’ voyage and 
journey through life, for more than three- 
score years and ten, passing.through a wick- 
ed world, and in the midst of crooked and 
perverse generations; about fifty five years, 
a professor of religion, on his pilgrimage, 
encountering, and exposed to, the hardships 
and trials, through.which, the travellers to 
Zion have to pass, like the children of Isra- 
‘el, journeying from Egypt, through the wil- 
derness, to the promised land; also, asa 
preacher of the cross, enlisted as a soldier 
_ of Christ, having daily to fight the good 
fight of faith, against the world, the flesh, 


ra 


and the devil; and forhalfacent empl dyed 
and deligently engaged, in itinerant missio~ 
nary services, as an ambassador for Christ, 
first in Europe, and then, forty five years in 
America; and then, your minds will more 
readily embrace a view of the fulness of 
Measure of his lops-suifferings, than at this 
time can possibly be described. 4 
But, my brethren, he did not suffer as an’ 
evil doer, or asa busy body, in other men’s 
matters; he suffered in well doing, as a chris- 
tian and as a christian minister. He bore 
and endured all for the sake of Christ, for 
religion, for the church, and for the salva= 
tion of souls. He had often to bear the 
winter’s pinching cold; and to face, and con 
bat, the storms, and sometimes the tempests 
of wind, rain, hail, and snow. Hadhe not, 
on longand fatiguing journies, to endure the 
summer’s oppressive heat, like pilgrims on 
the scorching sands, beneath, a burning sky? 
Had he not to suffer hunger, dine, spaietiea 
weariness, hard, lodging, and réstless nights? 
Had he not lingering afflictions of body, and 
accute diseases, often brought on him by 
great exposures, hard labours, much fatigue, 
and the want of the necessary comforts of 
life? Were not the rillbpehaint tongues of 
strife, and the invidious pens of slander, 
sometimes directed against him? were not 
_his best purposes, and most upright designs, 


155 


a s 
_ sometimes misrepresented and distorted?— 
Were not evil, and unworthy motives, false- 
ly, insiduously, and wickedly imputed to. 
him? And withal, had he not the ponderous 
weight, and arduous daily care of all the 
churches upon him? Was not this a conti- 
nual source of painful solicitude, and anxious 
concern unto him? Did not this occasion 
restless nights, and sorrowful days to him? 
What gave him more trouble, of such keen 
distress, at any time, as to see any disorder, 
or evils in the church, which tended to in- 
_jure the cause of God, to produce mischief 
among professors, or ruin to precious souls? 
What wounded his feelings, affected his 
heart, and grieved his soul, so much, as va- 
‘Tiance and hateful discord among brethren; - 
Yor the spirit and practice of heart and church 
division, which, unfortunately, sometimes 
appeared? The appearance of strange and 
false doctrines, the existance of infidelity, 
the prevailance of crimes, or the backsliding 
of professors; pierced. him with bitter an- 
guish, overwhelmed his niind, depressed and 
_sunk his spirits, and made him groan with 
disquietude of soul. Might we not say he 
was cast down, but not in despair; poor, but 
making many rich; always sorrowing, yet 
rejoicing; persecuted, but not forsaken; great- 
ly distressed, yet comforted; full of trouble 
yet happy; long-suffering with painful afflicz 


Spe eee ee 
156 4 


tion of divers kinds, both of body and mind, 
yet exulting with gladness and joy, from the 
consolations of grace, and from the antici- 
pation of the glory hereafter to be revealed? 
The temporal sufferings and parmful distres- 
ses, which sometimes befel his brethren, 
wounded his sensibility. The persecutions, 
reproaches, and oppositions, which they 
sometimes met with, especially, the distres= 
ses, in the time of the revolutionary war, _ 
which befell himself and others, were sour=_ 
ses of unspeakable trial and sorrow, for the! 
exercise of long-suffering. But dunia 

him so much, as the spiritual sufferings and 
injuries of the flock.of Christ, the chureby of 
God, the cause of religion, and the so f 
the people. Especially, when Christ wa as 
wounded in the house of his friends, it gave” 
him inexpressible, and may I not say, al- 
most insupportable pain, sorrowful heavi- 
ness, and anguish of mind. 

We have fully known his long-suffering. 
Alas! what did he not endure; what did he 
not undergo; what did he not bear; how. 
much, how long, how patiently, and how 
perseveringly, he held out to the end, in his 
long-suffering, for the salvation of men, for 
the promotion of religion, and for the glory 
of God! We have seen him, on such occa- 
sions, beset on every side; we have heard 
his sympathetic sighs, and witnessed his 


wie 


ne 


‘heart affecting groans ; we have beheld his 
sorrowtful anguish, and painful disquietude. 
‘Mine eye, said one, runneth down with 
tears, because men keep not thy law.” Oh! 
said another, that my head were waters, and 
mine + Aes a fountain of tears, that I might 
weep, for the slain of the daughters of my 
people ! [have warned you, said Paul, night 
and day, from house to house, with tears; I 
have told you often, said he, and now tell 
you even weeping, that many walk who are 
enemies to the cross of Christ. The pro- 
phets and apostles had continual sorrow and 
heaviness; and Asbury could not expect to 
be exempted. new GR ios 
‘We have been with our venerable Asbury, 

in some of his sorest conflicts, while ascend- 
‘ing and descending the mountains of diffi- 
culties, and passing through the valley of 
the shadow of death, fearing no evil; for 
the divine rod, and’ the staff, did comfort 
him. We havé seen him in the fires of af- 
fliction, yet unconsumed, and in the waters 
of difficulties, ready to overflow him, yet 
preserved. We haye witnessed him by | 
night and by day, we have attended and — 
watched with him on the bed of languish- 
ing, pain and distress; and we haye known 
his long-suffering. 

_ He counted not his life dear unto himself, 
so that he might fulfil the work his Master 

O 


‘* 


158 


had assigned him to do; he wished to acs 
complish all the good and ct will of 
God concerning him; in all he had to do, 
and in all he had to suffer. His valuable 
life was filled up with useful employment; 
he was worn down and exhausted with la- 
bour and suffering; he was often tired in the 
work; but he was never tired of the work. 
He was willing to hold on, and to hold out, so 
long as he could ride, walk, stand, or speak; 
until his Lord and Master, whom he loved, 
and delighted to serve, should call him home, 
from labour and sufferings, to his great re- 
ward. Then, and not till then, he was wilé 
ling to go; and then, withgladness, with joy, 
and triumph, he ceased at once, to labour, 
to suffer, and to live. = ane 
The last sermon:he preached, it appears 
that he could neither stand nor walk: but he 
said, “ God had given him a work to do, and 
he must deliver his testimony.” “At that time, 
he was carried into the meeting house, and 
sat in the pulpit, a a table, where he 
preached his last Discourse from these 
words, For he will finish the work, and cut it 
short in righteousness: because a short work 
will the Lord make upon the earth. He spake 
almost an hour, and when done, was almost 
spent.” This was only the Sabbath before 
he died. 
Although the curtain of life is dropped, 


159 


and the past scenes are over, and closed up 
‘forever; yet it appears, as if I could almost 
see him, sitting in yonder room, or pensive- 
ly walking the floor; and, as if I could hear his 
voice, singing some of his favourite pensive 
airs, suited to the state of his mind, in trou- 
bles and distress. I have often heard him on 
such occasions, sing, among other most so- 
lemn airs, the following lines; and his pen- 
sive melodious voice, now seems sounding 
in my ears: permit me to rehearse one fa- 
vourite hymn, which he used to sing in the 
tune called “ Light-Street.” 


Srixx out of the deepest abyss, 
Of trouble I mournfully cry; 
And pine to recover my peace, 
To see my Redeemer and die; 
I cannot, I cannot forbear, ‘ 
These passionate longings for home; 
Q, when shall my spirit be there! 
O, when will the messenger come! 


Thy nature I long to put on; 
Thine image on earth to regain; 
And then, in the grave to lay down 
This burden of body and pain. 
O, Jesus, in pity draw near, 
And lull me to sleep on thy breast; 
Appear, to my rescue appear, 
And gather me into thy rest. 


To take a poor fugitive in, 
The arms of thy mercy display, 
And give me to rest from all sin, 
And bear me triumphant away; 


160 


Away from a world ofdistress; § 9° 9 6% 
Away tothe mansions above; . , 
' The heaven, of seeing thy face— . 
The heaven, of feeling thy love. 

. 5 +g Vee 


er 
<t ets te 


2 a 
Through much tribulation we have to 
enter into the kingdom of God. rif are 
the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord, 
delivereth him out of them all. And when” 
the Judge of all the earth, shall call home 
his saints, in the great eternal day, God shall 
wipe away all tears from their eyes. These 
' are they, who came out of great tribulation, and 
have washed their robes, and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, are they 
before the throne of God; and he that sitteth on 
the throne, shall dwell among them. ° 
Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner 
of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, and my 
cuarity. Here we may truly observe, that 
charity, is the most prominent trait, and dis- - 
tinguishing feature, in the christian charac 
ter, and his manner of life. While on this 
head, we shall have to touch upon, and occa- 
sionally to recapitulate, some things already 
noticed. Eve ; 
Charity, is of the same import as the word 
Love ; and signifies, that attachment or af- 
fection of the mind, which afises in the 
heart, on ‘beholding, or contemplating, any 
object or thing, which appears congenial to 
our views, as calculated to contribute to our 
happiness, or, that is desirable in its nature, 


161 


and pleasing in its appearance.—It is mostly 
applied, in theology, to that gracious affection, 
or principle and disposition of the soul, 
wrought by the illuminating, renovating, and 
purifying influences of the Divine Spirit of 
grace; wheréby, we are led to esteem, desire, 
and delight in God; and to admire his attri- 
butes, love his perfections, and adore his holy 
and. sacred character. Under the influence of 
this sacred charity, we are excited to delight 
in religion and the worship of God. Being 
pleased with his nature, desiring his presence 
and favour, approving his will, and com- 
mandments, we are influenced to take pleasure 
in his service,to delight in his commandments, 
and, with joy and gladness, to dedicate 
ourselyes, both soul and body, to all the 
‘known rules and practices of piety in the 
faithful discharge of every known duty, which 
we owe either to God or man. In the 
possession of this charity, we are made 
the partakers of the divine nature, and enjoy 
fellowship, and communion, with the Fa- 
ther and with the Son. This is divine love, 
or the life of God in the soul of man. God 
is love, and he that dwelis in love, dwells in 
Gad, and God dwells in him. ; th 
Charity, is also applied to that christian. 
love, called, by St. Peter, Fervent charity 
among yourselves; Under the influence of 
which, we have christian affection, brother- 
O 2 


4 


162 


ly kindness, religious fellowship, and the 
unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace ; and 
which, often prevents, and frequently covers 
the multitudes of sins. There is no one 
principle so useful, and so necessary to be 
inculcated among christian brethren, as that 
of charity — Above all things have fervent cha- 
rity among yourselves. It is also applied to 
the principle of good-will, benevolence, com- 
passion, and liberality, toward all mankind, 
which disposes the heart to do them good, | 
either to soul or body, according to their | 
necessities, and to our ability and opportu- 
nities, to give them relief from sufferings, 
and to contribute to their comfort. ey 

Agreeably to the christian theology, cha- 
rity is a virtue of universal love to God, and 
to all mankind; not to be confined, alone, to 
our friends, but to extend even to our ene- 
mies. The root, and constituent principle, 
from which all its branches spring, and all 
its fruits grow, is Divine love; for God is love. 
He is the origin and source of love; and no- 
thing makes a man so much like the Author 
of his being, as that, of a loving, benevolent 
soul. It is the image of God; so that, he 
who dwells in love, dwells in God, and God 
dwells in him. We love him, because he first 
loved us. dite re) 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all 
thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy 
strength ; and thy neighbour as thyself; for 


163 


on these two, hang all the law and the prophets. 
A new commandment I give unto you that ye 
love one another! . We ought also to notice 
his further injunction, Love them that hate 
you, bless them that curse you, do good to them _ 
that do evil to you, and pray for them that de- — 
spitefully use you. Love your enemies. Charity 
is kind, evento them who dous wrongs, and in- 
juries, and inflict long-sufferings upon us.Cha- 
rity never faileth—Love is the fulfilling of 
the law.—The end of the commandment is 
charity out of a pure heart, and a good con- 
science, and faith wnfeigned. Its whole 
bent, inclination, and very nature is to do 
good, to promote and to-secure the greatest 
good. And to do unto others, as we would 
have others: to do unto us. Golden rule, 
and glorious principle! How it promotes 
human happiness, and redounds to the ho- 
nor and glory of God! . 
Charity, in all its diversity of excitements, 
influences, and operations, upon the: pious 
and devout heart, and soul, causes an ex- 
pansion, of all its virtuous powers, in warm 
emotions of gracious affection, of gratitude, 
of obedience, and of adoration towards God; 
and of christian, affection, brotherly kind- 
ness, religious fellowship, liberality of sen- 
timent, and union of spirit, among the peo- 
ple of God; and it goes out in tender 
sympathies, compassion, benevolence, mer- 
‘cy, and loving kindness, to all mankind. 


164 


1g soul, a merci-_ 


Yea, a good heart, a lovi 
ful mind, will feel bowels, of bi iggy 
and merciful kindness, toabeast. 2 


righteous man regardeth bel of his beast ; 
, but the tender mercies ofa icked are cruel. * 
* Without charity, all our professions of re- 
ligion, and pretensions to piety, are vain: 
“Though we could speak with the tongues 
of men and angels, and had the gift of pro-. 
phecy, and understood all mysteries, and all 
knowledge ; and though we have all faith, 
so as to remove mountains ; and though we 
bestow all our goods to the poor, and give 
our bodies to be burned; yet, if we have not 
charity, we are only as sounding brass, and 
tinkling symbols ; we are nothing.” ' 
Charity suffereth long, and is kind ; envi- 
eth not; vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 
doth not behave itself wnseemly 3 secketh not 
her own ; is not easily provoked ; thinketh no 
evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity ; but rejoiceth 
in the truth; beareth all things, believeth, 
hopeth, and endureth all things. Charity ne- 
ver faileth. Now abdideth faith, hope, charity, 
these three, but the greatest of these is charity. 
Charity, that bright offspring of heaven, how 
much it makes the saints resemble their 
God. It is a transcript of the divine na+ 
ture ; it-is the brightness of his glory; and 
in this, DEITy HIMSELF shines forth, Glorious 
an holiness ! res sh 
Without dwelling longer on the desctip- 


165 


tion and detail of charity, in its nature, its 
objects, its work and its fruits, I may just 
observe, that it stands related to God, and 
to man, and to every thing, in earth or "hea- 
ven, that is virtuous, amiable, good, and 
glorious. It is the bond of perfectness, which 
unites, | God to man, and man to God ; and 
which, is the chief means to a perfect union 
among all the members of the church, and 
to make their gifts and graces subservient 
to the good of one another. O, how it 
makes the cheerful feet, in swift obedience 
move! And O, how it will tune, and strike, 
the joyful strings, in the sweet realms of 
bliss! 

I might now appeal to you, my brethren, 
who have so long, and fully knowu, the doc- 
trines, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suf- 
ferings, and charity, of our late venerable 
Bishop, how far his gracious affections, cor- 
rect principles, pious dispositions, and holy 
living, toward God, and toward man, the 
ways and things of God, the people and 
cause of God, toward the men of this world, 
and even toward his enemies, corresponded 
with this brief exposition and description of 
charity. Was it not well known, that he 
had a great degree of benevolence, an am- 
ple stock of christian charity? Nay, was 
mot his whole life, and all he was, and all 
he had, employed and spent, in one conti- 
nual, uninterrupted, act of charity? For 


198 


what else, did he live; for what ce die die 
labour : for what else, "did he suffer ? 
other purpose, had he in view Wye 
other end, did he aim at? He elie to 
live for no other purpose, than to do good, 
and to glorify God. Yea, have we not seen, 
have we not known, and have we not enj 
ed, his labours of love ; the work, bird 
fruits, of his benevolence and charity ? ? Mas 
ny who were rich, have of their abundance 
given much, and have been much commend, 
ed ; but hath not he, who has given him- 
self, and all that he had, ‘given, seer iboe 
they all ? } 

He did not possess much of the mhiage of 
this world ; therefore; he could almost say, 
like the apostle Peter, Silver and gold have 
Inone; but such as I have, give I thee. 

“Gold and silver, he had but-little, at 
‘time, nor any other property; and therefo 
from want of pecuniary means, he could not 
distribute, abundantly, of the good things 

| of this life, such as food to the hungry, 
/ clothes to the naked, and other temporal re- 
| lief to the needy aad distressed ; but, of 
' ‘such as he had, even of temporal things, he 
| was always ready to communicate. If he 
| had two garments of one kind, and saw a 
oor brother in need, would he not cheer- 

| fully give him one? And would he not rea- 
aly divide the contents of his ee ip 


167 


witha brother who was destitute? A por- 
tion of the liberality of benevolent friends, 
toward himself, he would distribute among 
his needy and dependent brethren. Lin- 
ens, woollens, stockings, and other articles 
of supplies, he frequently received, from his 
kind and liberal friends in one place, and 
conveyed them to the relief and comfort of 
those brethren, who were necessitous, in the 
more remote and poor parts of the country. 
Thereby, he often cheered the hearts, and 
_relieved the wants, of those who were suf- 
fering and distressed. And when his own 
stock, or resources failed, he then, used his 
interest, and influence, with others who were 
able to supply his lack of means, by contri- 
buting, of their temporal good things, to the 
¥elief and comfort of the destitute. This 
was particularly exemplified, in his obtain- 
ing subscriptions, and donations, in one part 
of the country, where they abounded in 
plenty, and in taking, or carefully conveying, 
»such contributions to the relief of those, in 
other parts, where they were deficient. Such 
collections and supplies, have frequently 
been carefully conveyed hundreds of miles, 
and charitably distributed among the needy 
brethren, as the liberality of their distant 
friends, sent to relieve their wants, and to 
»enable them to go on, in their missionary © 
labours of love, in spreading the word of 


< 


168 | 
life and salvation, among’ those, who, for 
want of means, were not able, or those, who, 
for want of grace, were not willing, to sup 
port the ministry of the gospel among thems 
selves. Great, and most excellent, conses 
quences, have resulted from this benevo- 
lent and charitable. mode of procedure: 
thereby, the gospel of the grace of God, was 
carried to the remote and solitary places 
the country. (The poor had_the . 
preached to them, and sinnérs were taught 
the way of salvation ; who, but for this plan, 
might have lived. and died, without hearing 
the joyful sound of gospel grace.. The 
mountains, the wilderness, the remote set- 
tlements, were visited; and many of the 
poor lost sheep of Israel, were found, and 
brought home into the fold of Christ. ~ The 
praises of God were heard, in the log-houses, 
covered with slabs or bark; and the poor 
wretched inhabitants of miserable huts, and 
forlorn cottages, were brought to be the sub- 
jects of converting, justifying, and sanctify- 
ing grace, and to rejoice in God their Sa- 
viour. 

The venerable Asbury, had his whol 
heart and soul, zealously, beneyolently, mie 
charitably, set upon, and engaged in this 
blessed work; and in raising and supplying 
the means to carry it on. This, among other 
instances, was particularly manifested m, 


169 


what he called, The Mite subscription; which 
he had always with him, wherever he went, 
from north to south, from east to west, and 
presented it to those who were able and will- 
ing to contribute their mite (none were to 
subscribe, to this fund, more than one dol- 
lar) for the laudable, and charitable purpose, 
of spreading the gospel, far and wide, 
throughout the land; and to supply the ne- 
cessities of the travelling preachers, in their 
missionary labours, where they could not 
get a sufficient support from the people. In 
this, may be considered, at least, a three- 
fold object of charity: the instruction, and 
the salvation of the people, to whom the 
gospel was sent; the comfort, and support 
of those who went to-preach it; to send the 
gospel to the poor, who were not able, and 
to others, who were not willing, to bear the 
expense; and also, the good and happiness 
of those, who, thereby, might contribute to 
the charity, and participate in the reward, 
of aiding, in the spread of the gospel. It being 
more blessed to give, than to recerve: He was 
not unmindful, to “* Charge them that were 
rich in this world; that they should do good, 
that they be rich in.good. works, ready to 
distribute, willing to communicate; laying 
up in store for themselves, a good founda- 
tion against the time to come.” And like 
the apostle, who exhorted the Carinthians, 


x 


170 


the Galatians, and others, concerning the 
collections, for the needy saints at Jerusa. 
lem, he let them know, that God loveth ¢ 
cheerful giver. ¢ giftttoe - y 
‘His charity, and liberality of sentiment 
was extended toward those who aifferes 
from him in opinions and modes of wor 
ship. He manifested a disposition of love 
good-will, and. amity, toward the ministers 
and people of different denominations o 
christians; always making a charitable, o1 
liberal allowance, for their different opi 
nions, modes, and forms; especially, in al 
points not essential. It is well known, tha’ 
he endeavoured to cultivate a good, under- 
standing, and to promote friendship, anc 
christian intercourse, between the minister: 
and people of his ownecharge, and the min- 
isters and people of other communities. O 
that we could see that amiable dispositior 
ef christian charity, among the differen 
professors of religion, of every name, s¢ 
prevail, and triumph, as to kill and destroy 
and bury forever, the narrow, contracted 
spirit, of hateful bigotry, strife, and dis: 
cord. ” voy fy fhe 
~ His charity, was also exemplified in 
his christian lenity, great forbearance, and 
much long-suffering, toward those of hi: 
own charge, who were suspected, or charged. 
with error of sentiment, false« ines 


171 


imprudence of tempers, unguarded words, 
or irregularity of conduct; beimg careful to 
make up no'sudden decision against them, 
without credible, competent, and full eyi- 
dence—and, where the word of God would 
admit of it, to bear with them for a season; 
reproving, admonishing, counselling, and 
labouring with them; if possible to accom- 
plish their conviction, amendment, and re- 
formation. Being unwilling, to cut off any 
member, whether in, or out,of conference, 
“until every prudential, and christian means, 
to reclaim, recover, and save them, had 
been used, and failed. We-speak that, 
which we have seen, and testify that, which 
we have known. OQ, let us follow his ex- 
ample, in this line of conduct, in this chari- 
table forbearance with each other! With 
all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffer- 
ing, forbearing one another in love; endea- 
vouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the 
bond of peace. Let all wrath, and bitterness, 
and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, 
be put away from you, with all malice; be 
kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving 
one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, 
hath forgiven vy | Af there be any consola- 
tion m Christ, i comfort of love, if any 
fellowship. of hanna of ~n bowels and 
mercies, fulfil ye each others joy, that ye be 
like minded, having the same love, of one ac- 


172 
cord, of onic mind. Doing nothing through strife 


or vain 

Even to his worst enemies, he sought to 
do good. If they reviled, he reviled not 
again. He returned not evil for evil; but 
contrariwise, good for evil, and blessing in- 
stead of cursing. He aimed at the grand 
injunction. Love your enemies. Love them 
that hate you, bless them that curse you, do 
good to them that do evil to you, and pray for 
them that dispitefully use you. = . 

What could he do, that he did not do? 
For he exhausted all his strength, broke 
down his constitution, spent his talents and 
his all, and wore out his life, for the good 
of man, and for the glory of God. His la~ 
bour of love continued, so long as he had 
the power of action or the gift of ‘speech. 
He would have done more, had it been in 
his power; he did all that he could, even to 
the end. Wherein he failed in the full ac- 
complishment of his benevolent purposes, 
and his charitable designs, in the further- 
ance of the gospel, and in doing good; and 
wherein he came short of his capacious de- 
sires, in the universal spread of light and 
truth, it was not for want of a burning 
zeal, and a fervent charity; which continu- 
ally prompted his willing mind, to uncom-. 
mon diligence, great sacrifices, and to ardui- 
ous, constant, and indefatigable efforts and 


173 


labours. All human means have limits, all 
fmite things have bounds and. terminations? 
Much was done by him; and, there remains 
much for us yet to do; as he did, so go ye 
and do likewise. 

However, he had an Guapaskable conso- 
lation in this, that God wonderfully prosper- 
ed his labours of love ; and. gave astonish- 
ing success to his unwearied perseverance in _ 
well doing. Indeed, the Lord gave amazing 
prosperity to the cause, and to the ministry, 
which he superintended ; and daily enlarged 
the borders of Zion; adding thousands to 
the church, from year to year; and that, to 
the admiration of God’s people;.and to. the 
astonishment of the ‘corid, He lived to see, 
under his directions, about seven hundred 
itinerant preachers, in the unity of the spi- 
rit, successfully engaged in this all impor- 
tant work; and also, two or three thousand 
local preachers, as auxilaries, employed in 
promoting the blessed Redeemer’s cause; 
beside a vast number of exhorters, class lea- 
ders, and other official men, amounting to 
many thousands of praying, and useful la- 
bourers, taking an active and zealous part in 
this great and glorious work. And, at the 
time of his death, according to the actual 
returns, of the numbers, from the several dis- 
tricts and circuits, respectively and collec- 
tively, there were upwards of two hundred 

P2 


174 


thousand members, of the’ Methodist Epis- 
copal church, who were looking up to him, 
as their chief spiritual head, and bishop, un- 
der Christ; and over whom, he had the ge- 
neral superintendence. And it has been sup-= 
posed, with some probability, that not less 
than one million of hearers, attended the 
congregations, and the ministry, of the Me- 
thodist preachers, under his immediate su- 
perintendence. ‘Truly, God has done great 
things for us, whereof we are glad. And 
has all this great and wonderful work, this 
amazing and astonishing increase, been in 
the space of fifty years ; the time and period 
of his ministry? When he first came to 
America, there were not one thousand mem- 
bers in society. He came in 1771, and by 
the Minutes of conference, for 1773, two 
years after, there only appears the number 
of ten- preachers, and 1160 members; but 
now, more than two hundred thousand mem- 
bers. O, Lord, what hast thou wrought! 
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy 
tabernacles, O Israel! Beside all these, now, 
living witnesses, how many thousands have 
gone home to glory! Who, were, by the 
blessing of God, made the eo cr of grace; 
through the instrumentality of those labori- 
ous men! Qur departed venerable Asbury, 
was prominently, and pre-eminently engag- 
ed in this marvellous work from its infancy. 


1735 


He took the lead, he was called, set apart, 
and appointed, to the superintendency of it. 
He has compleated his work, finished his 
caurse, and is gone to account for his stew~ 
ardship, and to receive his eternal reward: 
Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou 
into the joy of thy Lord. 

Did we ever know, did we ever hear, or 
did we ever even so much as suspect, from 
the first to the last, that his charity ever 
failed; or, that his love ever grew cold? No, 
he was regularly and uniformly a burning 
and a shining light. When his happy soul 
was taking its flight, from this world, to the 
world of spirits, his last actions, his last 
words, his last tokens, and his last looks, 
proclaimed to those around him, that his 
heart was full of love, of charity divine. See 
the testimony of brother John W. Bond, his 
dying witness, in a letter, which I purpose 
introducing to you in the close of this dis- 
course. - 

He is now done with all sublunary things, 
his labour of love is ended. His charity, 
‘which budded, and blossomed here below, 
in the kingdom of grace, is now consummat- 
ed, as the full ripe fruit above, in the king- 
dom of glory. He has left us behind a little 
longer, to suffer and mourn. His example 
of charity, and constancy of love, let us fol- 
low, that when we have done with the things 


— 


176 


of time, we may meet him im that eternal re= 
se, where grief and. are no more. 
There, charity divine, oles nh stribie 
the joyful strings, in that sweet world of — 
and melodious sonnets, will be: sung, 
flaming tongues above! Bethe ecs 
joys, of that celestial f : a 
Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner — 
of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity 
and, my PaTrENcE. Patience, is gee 33 
or principle, whereby’ the: ‘people of 
endure or sustain, trials, tem tations, jure! 
persecutions, privations, an isha ieedte 9 dad 
that, with submission to’ the-will of Gad, it” 
meckness, resignation, tranquillity of mind, 
and sweet composure, and quietude aire 
rit; enabling them, ‘with’ contentment, 
fortitude, steadily to persevere, continue, 
hold out in well doing; and with Seni 
to pursue their calling, their labc 
duties; and,enduring their fatigues ar reortt 
ships, without murmuring, complaining, fret- ' 
ting, or fainting in'their minds; and by which 
they humbly, and calmly wait, in earne: oy 
pectation and confidence, for the sabe om of 


‘God, and eternal life-—Here is the PATIENCE 
of the saints —Let patience have her perfect — 


work—for, In your patience possess ye your 
souls—Ye have need of patience, that after 


have done the will of God, ye might receive eo 


promise.—Ve have heard of the coed ov py 


177 


and have seen the end of the Lord.—Take the 
prophets, who have spoken in the name of the 
Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and 
of patience. Be patient therefore unto the com- 
ing of the Lord.—.After that Abraham had pa- 
tiently endured, he obtained the promise-—Be 
ye therefore patient; stablish your hearts, for 
the coming of the Lord draweth near. The 
scriptures abound with admonitions, and 
encouragements to patience. Did not Asbury, 
as the minister of God, in much patience, 
endure his long-suffering, his work of faith 
and labour of love, and that, with patience of 
hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight 
of God and our Father? 4 

Hope, is the great supporter of patience; 
for, If we hope for that we see not ,then do we 
with patience wait for it; and faith, which is 
the evidence of things not seen, or the subsis- 
tence of hope, is, the substance, as well as the 
evidence, of the things hoped for. Hence, pa- 
tience is sustained by hope, and hope is sup- 
ported by faith. Faith, being the evidence, 
it realizes wnseen and future things, on the 
authority of divine testimony, or evidence; 
hope, being the desire and expectation of 
unseen things, or future good, it anticipates 
that future good, though yet unseen, which 
faith is the evidence of; or, the believing 
soul, realizes it by faith, anticipates it in hope, 
and waits for it with patience. Love, or chari+ 


178 


ty, being the graciousiaffe 
ing soul, which arisés, on beholding, or con 
templating, the pleasing and desirable un 
seen objects, of faith cho it acti 
into a warm, or glowing attachment, to th 
desirable and expected good, even to ¢ ) 
himself, who is the divine source and bene- 
volent Author of all good; as represented by 
the evidence of faith, as cat tie 
ticipation of hope, and. as waited for wi 
the long-suffering of patience. Faith realizes, 
hope anticipates,, love adores, and patiem 
waits, with much long-suffering, throug 
present afflictions, for the manifestation o 
that glory which shall be revealed. | 
Poco stands Ay Pag ean feta 
abiding union, of faith, hope, charity, these 
three, but the greatest of these is choca _ By 
God’s grace, through the exciting, and si 
mulating influences, of these three eardinal 
graces of the Spirit, in unity, upon the heart 
and soul, the fruits of genuine piety, holy pur- 
poses, and practical obedience, are produced; 
and also, a patient continuance i well doing, 


nd long-suffering of the will of God, is mani- 
/ tedin.thagha ea aa » The hus. 
bandman waiteth, in faith and hope, for th 


fruits of the earth, and hath sain tetions = 
it, until he receive the early and t, latter ré 

The obedience of faith, the labour of loys 
and. the patience of hope, are the most | 


2 


i 179 


minent, and distinguishing characteristicks 
of the children of God. " 
In every situation, and condition in life, 
patience, is essentially necessary, to the sta- 
bility and perseverarice of the christian; in 
order to bear him up, under, and to support 
him, through, the trials, the crosses, the temp- 
tations, the sufferings, and conflicts, of this 
probationary state, and troublesome world. 
‘What should we do, and what would be- 
come of us, without patience? 
_ We have known, the trials, the tempta- 
tions, the persecutions, the labours, the hard- 
ships, the calamities, and the long-sufferings, 
of our venerable gleparted friend; and we 
also have known his long patience under 
them. But probably, in candour, we ought 
to admit, that, apparently, he was more de- 
ficient, in the exercise of patience, than in 
any one of the christian graces. In some 
cases, upon some occasions, and at some 
times, he was thought to be rather irritable 
and impatient. Perhaps, he did not bear all 
things, in every situation, and circumstance, 
in which he was placed, with that pleasant- 
ness, calm composure, and sweetness of 
temper, that could have been wished ; and 
which was desirable, to his best ‘friends, to 
have seen. [If this was his failing, we must 
place it to the account of human infirmity. 
The best of men, of whom he was one, 


180 


are only men at best... And wemust.allow, 
that even the venerable Francis pe vk had 
some defects; that he was not perfectly free 
from human frailty, But his many excel- 
lencies, threw his failings into-the shade. 
Throwing the mantle of charity, as we are 
bound to do, over his supposed or real weak- 
nesses, in this, or inany other case; and where 
is the man, to take him all, and in all, who 
could bear the test of a critical review, bet- 
ter than he ; and, on the question of patience, 
generally, circumstanced as he was, who 
possessed and exercised more? When we 
consider the magnitude, and the multitude, 
of his cares, labours, sufferings, trials, and 
difficult perplexities, © he had to en- 
counter and bear ; was if not necessary for 
him to have had, even the meekness of Mo- 
ses, and the patience of Job? Making those 
allowances, which the circumstances of his 
peculiar situation require, and which chris- 
tian charity demands, we must agree, is 
although, gn some occasions, he appear 

rather unpleasant, and somewhat abrupt, 
and harsh, toward those about him; yet, to 
take him in the whole, he patiently endured, 
what few men would, or could have borne, 
He was also thought, by some, to be rather 
too much inclined to a suspicious turn of 
mind ; perhaps, this was partly constitutional, 
and partly, from his knowledge, observation, 


181 


-and experience of, the instability, the dis- 
simulation, the treachery, and the arts of 
designing men. The excellent Atchbishop ~ 
Cranmer, once said, in a trying time, when 
some of his pretended friends had deceived. 
him, “ My Gad, uho-can be trusted these 
times ?” A AaeDconem 

(hose who travelled with him*round the 
continent, over the mountains, through the 
wilderness, traversing the distant and soli- 
tary places, can tell us; those who have been 
with him, in the storms of rain and snow, 
in perils, by night and day, in torrid heat 
and frigid cold, fatigued, exhausted, and 
worn down, with labours, afflictions and 
toils, can inform us, with what patience he 
endured his temptations and trials ;. those 
who have seen, and witnessed, his extraor- 
dinary difficulties, perplexities, oppositions, 
reproaches, sufferings, and most trying con- 
flicts, can let us know, with what patience 
he bore them all; those who have attended 
his beds of affliction, and have seen him in 
torturing pain and restless anguish; and 
those who have known his complicated con- 
cerns, sufficient to try and prove the meek- 
ness and. patience of any man, can- bear wit- 
ness, with what submission he went through 
them all. There is brother Henry Boehm, 
for instance, who constantly travelled with 
him for several years, east and west, north 


arid south; and, who, has witnessed the 
trial of his patience, in his distresses, temp- 
tations, and afflictions abundant, let him 
speak ; and others, let them testify, how he 


bore privations, injuries, and wrongs ; and 
when overwhelmed with cares, brokendown 
by extensive journies, hard labours, .and-op- 
pressive burdens and buffettings, under va- 
rious afflictions, languishing and dying dai- 
ly, know how patiently he went on through ~ 
all.) Those who were with him, in his 
latter days and last moments, and witnessed 
his afflictions and patience, in the bitter 

pangs of death, can tell us how patience 
was perfected in tribulation, and haye told — 
us, that patience with her balmy wings, 
hovered over him, and sustaimed him to the © 
last. Afflicted so much, that they had to 
lift him in, and out of his carriage, yet he 
patiently kept on his way, occasionally 
preaching, and continuing to travel, even to 
the last day of his life. A little before he © 
departed, when his voice and his strength 
both failed him, being asked, “if he found 
Jesus to be present?”—with an unutterable 
expression, he looked up, and lifted his 
hands toward heaven, in token thathe should 
soon be there. He possessed his reason to: 
the last, and when unable to speak, he gave 
tokens, that his soul was staid upon the 
Lord, in full confidence of his love and fa* 


183 


vour, and with resignation and patience. 
At length, “without a groan, or a com- 
plaint, he fell asleep in the arms of his Sa- 
viour.” His labours, his sufferings, and 
his life ended together. 


“ His body with his charge laid down; 
And ceas’d at once, to work and live.” 


We have fully known his doctrine, manner 
of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, 
patience:—Avd, we now know, that he 
‘made a triumphant end! He hath fought . 

-the good fight, he hath finished his course, 
he hath kept the faith; henceforth, there is 
laid up for him a crown of righteousness, 
' which the Lord the righteous Judge, shall 
give him, in that day, or has given him: and 
not to him only, bat unto all them also that 
love his appearing. He is gone to receive his 
great reward: even a splendid, beautiful, 
glorious, CROWN OF LIFE, enriched with 
celestial gems, resplendent with diamonds 
of heavenly lustre ; resembling His, whose 
Crown is a crown of many stars. 
I have been longer on this subject, than 
I contemplated or expected. The great 
and interesting importance of the subject 
matter of the text, and the superexcellence 
of the character and personage, to whom it 
originally related, and the venerable charaes 


* 


184 


ter, to whom we have now applied it, open- 
ed an extensive field of abundant matter, 
which I searsely knew how to dispose of 
with more brevity: and after all, it is far 
from being exhausted. It demanded, and 
merited, a more extensive illustration, and 
a more full and particular exposition, and 
application, than our time or ability, at the 
present, will admit of. Both the text and 
the excellence of the two characters spoken — 
of, Paul and Asbury, deserved a more able 
speaker to do them complete and ample 
justice. However, Jf there be a willing 
mind, it is. accepted, according to that a man 
hath, and not according to that he hath not. 
At some future period, no doubt, we shall 
have the Biocrauny or Memorrs, of the 
Character, the Life, and the Labours of 
Bisuop Assury; written and published, 
by some able hand, having time sufficient, 
and so well qualified with talents, and so _ 
well furnished with matter, documents, and 
information, as to do complete justice to 
the Suhject; and to render it a blessing to 
individuals, to the church, to the world, and 
to future generations. The righteous shall 
be had in everlasting remembrance. 

We must now draw to a close. And ~ 
what shall I say? Our Aspury 1s prap! 
His life was dear and valuable, precious and. 
useful, to his friends, to the church, and te 


185 


‘the world: in which, we took much interest; 
with which, we were much delighted ; by 
which, we were much benefited; for which, 
and that we had it so long, we desire to be 
thankful to God. But now, alas! his life 
is passed away, and is gone; he is no more; 
on the account of which, we are clothed in 
mourning, we sit in lamentation, our hearts 
are filled with sorrow, and our eyes are 
bathed in tears! Are we left as fatherless 
children? We had, and have, many brethren, 
many teachers, and instructors; but, we 
had only one father, and he is no more. Is 
the church left as in a widowed state? Are 
our joys, which we usually had, at seeing 
and hearing the venerable man, now turned 
into sorrow and sighing, and our gladness, 
into weeping and tears? Ah, brethren! we 
shall see him no more on earth. We have 
come to the house of mourning ; the tem- 
ple of the Lord is filled with grief; the house 
of God with sorrow and lamentation!. But, 
let us not sorrow as without hope. Our 
loss, is his infinite gain.. Oh! Asbury, As- 
bury! Thou wouldst not return to earth 
again; no, not for all the honours, the 
riches, the pleasures, and the splendid glo- 
ries that this world can bestow! He will 
no more return to us, but we shall follow 
him. He has left us behind, to suffer and 
mourn a little while longer. He left us 
Q2 


se 


+ Nae a ia WON gk ~ ee 
) ad » 
186 


with hopeful expectations, that we would > 
follow on to know the Lord; and at the 
close of life, meet him again, in that glori- 
ous rest which remains to the people of — 
God. If we at last ascend the mountain of 
the Lord’s house, and enter into the taber- 
nacle of his glory ; there we shall again see . 
our Asbury, seated among the righteous _ 
Patiiarchs, the holy Prophets, the blessed 
Apostles, the suffering conquering Mar-. 
tyrs, and all the glorified Saints, who have 
lived and died in the faith ; and which con- 
stitute the church of the first born, in 


spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. Our — 
Elijah is gone up; let us hope and pray 
that his fallen mantle will be taken up care- — 
fully ; and that the spirit of our Elijah, 
will rest upon our Elisha, or Elishas ; and 
that we shall have, and continue to have, a 
head and a leader, among the prophets of 
Israel.. Oh, that a double portion of his 
spirit, may rest and remain upon those, who 
take up his mantle, and fill his office and 
piace! And Oh Lord! Grant that the same 
spirit may abundantly rest. upon us all, in. 


187 


power divine!—If we are only faithful to 
God, he will be with us, provide for us, and 
abundantly bless us. He will not leave us, 
nor cast us off from his favour, unless we 
first depart from him, and from his ways. 
That God, who sticketh closer than a broth- 
er, and is better than ten sons; who isa 
Husband to the widow, and a Father to the 
fatherless children, will be our God and our 
Friend. Though the great and good, the be- 
loved and useful, Francis Asbury, who was 
so indefatigable and. persevering, in well do- 
ing, and was so useful in serving the Metho- 
dist connexion, has now gone down with his 
ancestors to the grave, the house appointed 
for all living, and sleeps beneath the clods 
of the valley; yet, while we have God among 
us, we need not fear. If the Lord is for us, 
who can be against us? Who can harm us, 
if we but follow after that which is good? 
_ Bishop Asbury, died at 4 o’clock, on Sun- 
day, the 31st day of March, in the year of our 
Lord 1816; im the 71st year oft is age ; 
about the 56th of his profession of religion, 
as a witness of God’s pardoning love; the 
50th of his regular Itinerant Ministry ; the 
45th of his extensive travels and extraordina- 
ry labours in America ; and the 32d of his 
Episcopate, or Superintendency, as Bishop, 
of the Methodist-Episcopal-Church. His 
works shall praise him in the gates of Zion. 


5 b Re ee ee es Oe | 
. tye | 
: 18 


Mark the perfect man, and: behold the upright ; ; 
the end of that manis peace, May we die the 
death of the righteous, and may our last end 
be like his! — 
Now, to sum up te Weel, and come to | 
a conclusion; let me briefly recall your atten- 
tion to the character, to the different items 
in the text, and to ‘the different divisions of 
the discourse ; and permit me to make an 
application of the whole. You have fully 
known Francis Asbury, as an excellent man, 
a pious christian, a laborious useful minis- 
ter, and a diligent faithful superintendentjof 
the church of Christ.—You have ‘fully known 
his system of Doctrine, and that i it was scrip- 
tural, sound, and wholesome ; ‘T will there- 
fore enjoin, and enforce it “upon rou, my 
brethren of the ministry, ‘that you ¢ iligently 
follow his doctrine, and faithfully teach it to 
others. Take heed unto yourselves, and wi- 
to the doctrine; continue in them: for in do- 
ing this, ye shall both save yourselves and 
them that hear you.—His manner of ie) hath 
laid down an excellent example, of christian 
piety, and of ministerial diligence and fideli- 
ty, for us, as christians, and preachers of the 
gospel, to imitate ; let us carefully and dili- 
gently keep our own souls alive to God, and 
live in the exercise of all the graces of the 
spirit, and in the whole practice of piety, in 
all the duties of religion ; and, as ministers, 


189 


let us never forget, nor neglect, to copy af- 
ter the pattern laid down before us.—His > 
| upright, holy Purpose, his pure intention, and 
his godly designs, we ought to remember, ~ 
and endeavour to act with equally pure pur- 
poses, and holy intentions, in all that we do. 
—His unfeigned Faith, in all the truths of | 
the gospel, in all the doctrines of Christ, and 
in his distinguished fidelity, m the exercise 
and fruits of faith, we ought diligently to 
follow, and also, in all that charge which was 
committed unto him, as a steward in the 
household of God; for like Moses he was 
faithful in all his house, as an example for 
us to follow. And let us also take him for 
an example im the spirit and disposition of 
much Long-suffering, and christian forbear- 
ance ; let us learn the lesson, to bear, and to 
endure, all the good pleasure of God’s holy 
and perfect will concerning us; both in what 
we have to do, and in all that we havé to 
suffer—His Charity, Did he bestow his 
time, his talents, his all, for the good of 
others, for the benefit of man, for the salva- 
tion of souls, and for the glory of God? Did 
the love of Christ constrain lum ; did the Di- 
ine love, so burn upon the altar of his de- 
vout heart, as to ‘produce that ardent flame 
of love, and benevolence of soul to man, 
which led him to go forth, spending all he 
had, and all he was, in soul, body, and spi- - 


190° 


rit, in the diffusion of benefits, to the souls 

and bodies of men, and that to the utmost 
of his ability? Go thou, and do likewise. If | 
there be a willing mind, it is accepted ac- 
cording to that which a man hath. Only do 
what you can, God requires no more; the 
poor widow’s two mites, being all that she 
had, received praise of the Lord : therefore, 
cast your mites, as well as your talents, in- 
to the treasury of the Lord—the treasury | 
of doing good, both to the bodies and souls 
of men. Keep yourselves in the love of God. 
Love one another, be kind, tender hearted, | 
with bowels of compassion. We have been | 
told, that our venerable Bishop, once on see- | 
ing a needy brother, likely to suffer, and not 
having money, or other necessaries, where- 
with to relieve his wants, took out his watch, 
and said, “ There brother, take that, dispose 
of it, and supply yourself with what you 
need.” If we love God, we shall love our 
brother also. O, brethren, above all things, 
have fervent charity among yourselves /—And, 
let Patience, have its perfect work ; if we do 
hope for salvation, and eternal life, let us 
with patience wait for it; take the prophets, 
who have spoken in the name of the Lord, 
for an example of suffering affliction, and of 
patience ; ye have heard of the patience of 
Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; 
be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the com- _ 


191 


ing of the Lord ; be patient; stablish your 
hearts ; for the coming of the Lord draweth 
nigh. All will soon be over: the end of all 
things is at hand. 

It will not be long, before our surviving 
friends, will have to = that we, also, are 
no more. O brethren! when we are called 
to die, shall we be ready to go? Are we 
prepared, and preparing, to give an account 
of our stewardship to God? Have we done, 
and are we doing, our duty to God, to man, 
to the church, and to one another? When 
we are called hence, where shall we. find 
our destined place? Shall we ascend the 
hill of the Lord, and dwell for ever in the 
habitation of his holiness? Shall we there 
overtake, and unite again with our departed 
Asbury 2 Shall we be so happy as to meet, 
and sit down with him in that sweet world 
of love? There shall we see Jesus, in the 
midst of his glory, seated on his GREAT 
WHITE THRONE; and surrounded by those 
who were redeemed from the earth, crying 
out, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
glory, and honor, and power ; for thow wast 
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy 
blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and 
people, and “nation ; and the number of them 
was ten thousand times ten thousand, and 
thousands of thousands ; and I beheld, and, 
lo, a great multitude, which no man could 


192 y 


number, of all nations, und kindreds, and 
people, and tongues, stood before the throne, 
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes’ 
and palms in their hands. And crying with 
a lowd voice, saying, Sakwation to our God, 
who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb ; 
and they fell before the throne, and worshipped — 
God ; saying, Amen; Blessing, and honor, 
and wisdom, and glory, and power, and | 
might, and thanksgiving, be unto our God, for 
ever and ever. Amen! There my brethren, | 
among that innumerable multitude, we hope © 
to meet our Asbury, the Wesleys, Fletcher, — 
Coke, Whatcoat, and all the saints, of every 
name, with all our friends, who have de- 
parted in the faith ; there, we hope to see 
Oe Biya. chs, the. 


Jesus, surrounded by the pa 
prophets, the apostles, nd martyrs; and — 
to join them, in the song of Moses and the 
Lamb, never to be separated again. Oh, 
The enrapturing contemplation! How ec- 
static the vision, to see them all in glo L 
ow overwhelming, how heart*meltin p 
reflection, and how delightful the anticipa- — 
tion!. The thought, the hopeful expecta=" 
tion, fills my soul with awful sensations, and 
sympathetic emotions! My heart fills, even — 
to overflowing—lI feel a strange conflict, of 
inexplicable and’ unspeakable sensations, al- 
most bordering upén raptures of joy and 
wonder. Oh, the anticipations of hope; 


193 


the representations of faith; the exceeding. 
great and precious promises, which are all 
yea and amen, in Christ Jesus! With pro- 
found adoration and reverential « awe, I bow 
my head, and: prostrate fall as in the dust, 
O Lord at thy feec! Oh! my God! up- 
hold us all; strengthen and support us a 
little longer ; and bring us off more than 
‘conquerors, in this state of trial and con- 
fliet; and then, take us home to thyself, and 
receive us up to glory! 

O, brethren! shall we be so happy, at 
last, as to ascend to the-skies, to go up tri- 
ump shantly as in the chariot of fire, and join 
those thousands oi thousands, and ten thou-_ 
sand peo a thousands, to sing doxolo- 
gies, hosannas, as, and hallelujahs to God and 
the Lami, forever. ‘and ever! ‘There, the 
unwearied congr egations shall neyer break 
up! There, united brethren and friends, 
shall never part again! There; no sorrow, 
affliction, or death, shall ever enter! All 
tears shall be wiped away from these eyes, 

‘and there shall be weeping no more. All 
will be uninterrupted felicity, and extatic rap- 
tures of joy and love! It doth not yet ap- 
pear fully what we shall be; but when 
Christ, who is ou Life, shall appear, we 
shall see him as he is; and shall be like 
him ; and shall appear with him in his glo- 
ry! And shall we see Jesus as he is? The 

R : 


Raye he ee 
ine 


ence crucified, but nowanenly exalted Sa. 
viour? Shall we appear with him; shall we 
be like him; and shall we dwell with him, 
in the fulness of the brightness of his glory 
forever? How the Hosannas will echo 
throygh all the celestial plains; while un- 
speakable glories shall fill the heavenly | 
lace ! eat? : 
They shall come from the east, and from — 
the west, and from the north, and from the — 
south ; of every people, and nation, and 
kindred, and tongue, and shall sit down ~ 
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the © 
kingdom of God. What heig’ 
tures:shall we know, when round hi 
we meet! Oh! my Lord! sl 
Shall I be so happy, as to 
fathers and brethren, into that he 
ry? Shall I with you, my friends, at 
ascend the supertial Mount Zion, the f 
the Lord, and enter into the heavenly city, 
and into the temple of God, the saints se< 
cure abode, and their eternal home? Oh! 
itis the holy of holies, where Christ our 
Redeemer, and forerunner, has gone, and 
for us, entered within the vail, He went 
to prepare a.place for us ; and he will come 
again, and take us to himself; that where 
he is, there we may be also.. Lord prepare 
us for that heavenly place! Oh, that our 
God, may now Visit us powerfully ; and 


195 


shake terribly the place where we are; and 
fill this house with his glory! O Lord! | 
“fill every heart with redeeming love; and 
fix, in every soul, a deep, and godly con- 
cern, for this great salvation, arid this fu- - 
ture glory! I pray God, diese, and to 
sanctify, the present afflictive dispensation ‘ 
this trying visitation, and sore calamity ; 
this solemn, affecting, and mournful occa- 
sion; and make it a means of good to us 
all—to the awaking of the guilty conscience ; 
to the conversion of the penitent sinner; to 
the quickening of the luke-warm ; to the re- - 
claiming of backsliders ; and to the build- 
ing up, and to the sanctification of every 
believing soul! He, who could make the 
wails of Jericho fall down at the sound of 
the trumpets of rams’ horns, can shake ter- 
ribly the strong holds of darkness, by the 
blowing of the gospel trumpet—O God! 
let the sound of thy gospel trumpet reach 
every conscience! O! that the walls of un- 
belief, the towers of sin and wickedness, 
and the strong holds of darkness, may shake, 
and give way, and fall down before our 
Joshua! O that Jesus, our Lord, may en- 
ter, and take possession of every soul!. 
Beloved hearers, let it be. known, and re- 
membered, that, without repentance, refor- 
mation, faith, justification, and sanctifica- 
tion, we can never be saved; and, without 


196 

this, we shall never meet_the saints above, 
nor sce the face of Godin glory. O! let J 
us awake, arise, and run, let us flee to the | 
ark of safet ’, to the City of refuge, to the out — 
stretched arms of mercy! Jesus, with open — 
arms, is ready to receive every returning 
penitent sinner; and is ready, able, and 
willing, to build up, to support, to Strength- © 
en, to sanctify, and to save, every believing’) 
soul.  —_—_ ri 

Alas! alas! what heart rending reflec- — 
tion, what heart piercing thought is this, 4 
which darts into my mind? I am arrested — 
by some painful apprehension, some awfal — 
fears.What is it? It gives me a kind of © 
anguish—Mine eyes run down with tears— — 
myvheart is filled with distress—It is this: ' 
Shall any of us, in that awful, that 
that glorious, and eternal day, be se 
far from the glorious company of thi 
ful? $hall any of us, among whom, 
venerable departed Friend, once lived, and 
laboured; who, have heard him preach, and 
pray, and converse; who, peradventure, 
have sat in conferenee with him, and taken 
sweet counsel together ; who, havelassocia- 
ted with him, entertained him in our houses, 
and ‘seen his godly example; sh@ll any of 
us, either preachers or people, fail to méet 
him in the bright Mansionsyabove? “Will 
any of you, who hear me this day, neglect 


; 197 
the great salvation, and so come short, at 
last, of that thrice happy place? The Lord 
forbid, that any of us, should come short of 
that heavenly rest, which remains for the 
people of God! Let us labour, let us 
strive, to enter into that rest. Let us so 
walk, and so live, in the regeneration here 
below, that when our course is finished, and 
life shall end, we may safely arrive, on 
Zion’s celestial Mount, and enter into the 
temple of the New-Jerusalem above. The 
Lord grant us grace, so to live, and so to 
order our conversation in righteousness, as 
becometh the gospel of Christ, while here, 
in time, that we may all meet together there 
in eternity! Oh! that our fathers, andk 
mothers, and children, and brethren, and 
friends, according to the fiesh; and also in 
Israel, according to the spirit, may then 
come up before the Lord, and say,.Here we 
are, and the children, and friends, Thou hast 
graciously given us: we have brought them 
with us, here we are, ready to jom the innu- 
merable armies of those who were redeemed. 
from among men, and, who, have washed 
their robes, and made them white in the 
blood of the Lamb. Oh! what acclamations 
of joy, and glorious exultations of unutter- 
able delight! At his right hand there are 

pleasures for ever more. 
O God, of power, of wisdom, and of good< 

9 


198 


ness! O Lord, most a and. gracious, 


who art glorious i in holiness,-make the ‘ap- 
plication ! Let thy power, be. felt in thy 
word! Letythy Spirit, descend like the rush- 


ing of ami wind! Let thy love, like a 


flame of fire, kindle upon the altar of every 
heart! Let. thy r overshadow. us, and 
fill the house, and make the place awful, and. 
glorious, because of thy. »presence ! And let 
ie mercy, and thy great salvation, be ex- 

tended to every soul! 

Shall I now come to a elose? My heart 
is full and enlarged toward you. Brethren of 


the ministry, our Father, who used to go in 


and out before us, has bidden us @ final fare- _ 
well, till we meet him above. Adhere to his — 


doctrine : imitate. and follow his examples 
be pure in your purpose 37 teadfastl 
shaken in ‘faith; endure with, mvel ae 
suffering ; be constam ‘vent in chari- 
ty; and daily, and pers agly, live, in the 
patience of "hope. Foll yw on to know the id 
to do his righteous will, 
and to win souls to” Christ, until you Anish 
your course ; that then, you may leave this 
world, ‘triumphant i in the faith, exulting in 
redeeming love, and go rejoicing home to 
glory; and there, shine like the stars i in the 
firmament, for ever and ever. ~ 

Brethren of the church, and hearers ger 
rally, one and all of you, Prepare to rma 


; ® 


Ruect 
me 


me 


199 


God. Prepare to die; prepare for judgment; 
prepare for heaven. Now is the accepted 
_ time, behold, now is,the day of salvation : 
you have no time to lose; ésc pe for your 
lives; flee, Oh, flee from. the ae, to come! 

I have but little more to say.—When will 
the world, or the chureh, be favoured and 
blessed with such another servant of God,as 
that which we have/lost? I never expect to 
see one corne up to his standard, in all re- 
spects. There are many Rev erends, and. 
Right Reverends, in the world; but where 
are the labourers in the Lord’s vineyard? 
who are the servants, the labourers in the 
Jarvest?. Titles, distinctions, dignities, bene- 
fices, and places, are but empty sounds, and 
paltry things; compared with the more sub- 
stantial, and more excellent, dignity and ap- 
pellation, Kar SERVANT OF THE LORD— 
‘THE AMBASSADOR OF GoD—THE GOSPEL 
LABOURER.—The Lord requires that his Mi- 
nisters should be servants and labourers. He 
that is the greatest among you, let him be 
the servant of all. St. Paul said, Though I 
be free from all men, yet have I made m1 yself 
servant unto all, that T might gain the more.— 
Ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. And 
-our Lord said, Whosoever wiil be chief among 
you, let him be your servant. Let this mind 
bein you, wiich was also in Christ Jesus ; 
‘who, being in the form of God, thought tt not 


a 


200 


robbery to he equal with God ; but made idle | 
self of no reputation, and took upon him the 
form of a servant.—-The sertvant i is not great. | 
er than his Lord: neither he that is sent, great- 
er than he who sent him.—I have given you 
an excumple, that ge les, cone do as I have done 
to you. 05 yes ervants of the’ Lord. are ye | 
ith the Mysteries” of the Most 
high Gaaea » ye the ministers of the 
sanctuary, and of the tabernacle, which ah 
Lord pitched, and not man® Is the dispens| 
sation of the gospel committed unto you 
Is it not your highest honor, your greatest gl 
ry, to be the Sereants of God, the servants of 
the church, the servants of each other, and 
the servants of all, for the sake of Jesus. 
Christ? “Oh! that my Lord would count 


me meet, to wash his Nero disciples’ feet!” 
In love, with humilityy ence, an difideli- 
ty, let us serve God s blessed C3 


and serve one’ another, and theschurch of 
Christ! Let us be dabowrers in the vineyard, 

and workers together with Christ in the har- 
vest! Be not slothf ridle—Arise, there 
is no rest for you yet! This is n6t our rest- 
ing place, we have no abiding city here ; 
but we seek one to come. Let*us not be 
‘ashamed, nor afraid, to discharge our duty; 
‘Jet us do the work of evangelists, with zeal, 

perseverance, and holy diligence. Be not 
high minded, nor loyers _of the world, nor 


Maw 


201 


seekers of earthly pleasure, nor worldly trea- 
sure. Your business is, to save as many 
souls as possibly you can persuade to be re~ 
conciled to God ; to lay up) for yourselves, 
treasures in heaven # to provide bags that 
wax not old ; and. an incorruptible: inheri- 
tance, that fadeth not away, reserved. i in hea- 
ven for you! God’s glory, the promotion of 
religion, and the salvation < of souls, in the 
work of the ministry, is the business of the 
‘ Ambassadors of God ; for this, let. us live, 
and work, and labour ; that the Master may 
say to us. in the arab day, Weil done, good 
and faithful pig ap enter ye into the joys of 
your Lord. 

Before I dismiss the congregation, I think 
it proper to read the substance of a letter 
from John W. Bond, to Bishop M‘Kendree, 
giving an account of the jdeath of Bishop 
Asbury. Brother Bond, travelled with him, 
and attended him daily, and was with him 
when he.died. His laborious work, and his 
suffering life, ended’ together. Blessed are 
the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth : 
yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from 
their labonrs ; and their works do follow them. 

SroTrsyitvanta, Va. April 1, 1816. 
Revo. 4nd Dear Sir, 

ProsaBty before this will reach you, you 
will have heard its solemn contents from 
some other source; but still I feel it my 


rye eee CC ae 
\@ Bai. i 
duty to send you a ) — account of 
what has taken place:-—WYesterday the Lord 
visited us with a most solemn and afflicting | 
Father fehl age taken our venerable : 
Father from Les} e — AsBury i ies 
ae 


the house of his old friend, 

. Manchester, on Saturday tle 
March. — On Sabbath he insise” 
to a congregation, to be con~ 
vened at eee elect in Brother Potts’ 
house. Though it was with difficulty h 
could be heard, yet he spake for more th 
an hour; and, when done, did not appear 
so much’ eielin teRE as Lexpected. On Mon- 
day, though'the weather was vourabley, 
we crossed over to Richmond and put u 
with Brother Raymond. On Thursday w ‘ 
moved to Brother A. Foster’s. ‘On Sun- : 
day, 24th, he persisted! im- are solution to 
speak to the congregati 
in the afternoon. T 
and urged every thing I could with prudence, 
to dissuade him from it; but/he-said, Gop 
had given him a work if do there, na he 
must deliver his testimony. At\the time 
appointed he was carried into the Meeting- 
house, and sat in the pulpit, on a stable, 
when he preached his “last Sermon, from 
Rom. ix. chapter, and 28th. verse— For 
‘He will finish the work “ and cut it shert in 


She ‘conséquence, 


ui} 


203 
righteousness; because a short work will the 
Lord make upon the earth.” He spake near 
an hour, and when done, was almost spent. 
We, howeyer, set out on ‘Tuesday and travel- 
led. twenty-two miiles. Father Foster accom- 
panied | us to our old friend, Thomas Cren- 
shaw’s. Being much fatigued, ‘and very un- 
well, he tarried here on W ednesday » and 
requested that an appointment should be 
made, and word sent out that there would 
- be preaching at four o’clock in the afternoon, 
saying,— He wished. those that were with 
him to do something, if he could not.” A 
small congregation collected, to whom I 
preached, . but, our venerable Father was 
too unwell to come into the congregation. 
On Thursday we again set out, and tra- 
yelled twenty miles, and put up with our 
good friend and Brother, Edward Rouzee— 
here he was exceedingly feeble, though cheer- 
ful, We set out ‘again on Friday: Brother 
Rouzee came several miles with us, and then 
took leave as one who was giving up his 
Father to die. _We dined at Brother Han- 
cock’s, and then proceeded to our old friend, 
George Arnold’s, travelling, in all this day, 
about twelve miles; but I never saw him so 
much exhausted in travelling before. He 
said to me, on Saturday morning, “ If this 
should be as good a day as yesterday, we 
can hardly help travelling some.” It, how- 


204. me 


ever, rained, and I was not sorry to see sits 
wishing him torest. It being proposed that 
we should have meeti on Sabbath » Isp ake 
of sending anotet mily about five esikes 
off, who, it was . would be much grati- | 


624 to katona 1 >i ne Bishop hearing it, 
replied,—* You need not be in 0 hare 
as so unl _a thing for to. 
say respe Spee g, especially on the © 
Lord’s day; that I concluded he apprehen- — 
ded that he, would be too weak to bear the 
noise of a meeting L the house. He spent 
a very restless m din the morning ap- | 
peared more than all unwell. I pro- 
posed sending for a physi¢ian, * 
saying, that there was a Dr. Les 
titioner of eminence, about ten 2 
miles off. He objected, Saad 
not be able to ‘tell him what is the 
with me, and the man. will no 
to do.” On myurgmg 2 
“He could only pronounce 
said, ‘* Probably he ‘cor id ¢ gi € you some- 
thing that would relieve you.” ” ~ He replied, 
““ My breath will be gone Gebers che-can get 
here.” I said, “I hope you have nO ap- 
prehension of any thing so serious taking 
place—have you?” He answered—* Yes.” 
After a while I asked him, “ Whether, if 
any thing serious should take place, he had 
‘any word to leave with me. He said, He 


. 205 


had spoken, and written so fully, that it was 
unnecessary. I told him, “ that I had heard 
him speak so frequently on the affairs of the 
church, that I believed I understood his 
sentiments fully.” He replied,— Yes.” 

After a while, asking the hour of the day, 
and being told it was near eleven, he asked 
if it was not “time for meeting,” being told 
that there were none present but the family, 
he replied,—“ call them together, I want to 
have meeting.” They being collected, I 
read what was our Lesson for the day, the 
21st. Chapter of the book of Revelation; it 
being remarkable that the last chapter in 
the Revelation, which in course would have 
been read in the evening, should be the Les- 
son which should close the day on which he 
closed his labours. “ During the whole of 
the meeting his soul seemed much engaged, 
and as it was truly an affecting time, he ap- 
peared much elevated and raised his hands 
frequently in token of triumph. When meet- 
ing was over, he called on me to “tread the 
mite subscription.” But being told that there 
were none present but the family he said no 
more. His calling for this to be read shews 
that even the pangs of death were not able 
to wrest from him the interests of the mis- 
sions, which lay with somuch weight on his 
mind. 

After this his voice failed, but still he 

+ S 


‘ 


206, : 


gave evidence that he Teed his rea- 


son to the last. A little before he died, 
finding that I was affected at his not being 
able to take a little barley water which I 
offered to him in a tea-spoon, he lifted up his 
hand toward Heaven in token that he should , 
soon be there. *I_ then asked him if he 
found that Jesus was present? when he rais- 
ed both his hands toward Heaven with an_ 
expression which I shall never forge get. He 
then without a groan or Sonne fell 
; asleep i in the arms of his Saviour, at four 
o’clock on Sunday the 31st. of March, Eigh- 
teen Hundred and Sixteen. . 

His venerable remains T expect to be in- 
terred to-morrow, in the my burying 
ground of his.old F riend, Brother - George 

Arnold. ng 
/ _ Yours, with respect, 


JOHN) w. BOND. 


REV. BISHOP M‘ KENDREE. ay a iy 


Now, brethren, I commend you to God, to 
his divine protection and favour, and to “the 
Word of his grace, whichis able to do far more 
abundantly for you, than we are able to ask 
or think, and to build you wp, and to give you 
an Inheritance among all them that are sancti- 
fied. Now, to God, the Father, Son, and 
Holy Ghost, "be ascribed unceasing, undivided 
and everlasting honor, praise, and, glory! 
AMEN, me 


* Te 


aA 207 


Appendix, to page 108 and 109. 


Tere are those who have blamed.and 
censured the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
for becoming a separate people, distinct from 
the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Uni- 
ted States. It has been objected, that the 
Methodists, as a body of people, ought to 
have waited, till the Episcopalians had ob- 
tained the succession, and consecration of 
their bishops, from the Church of England ; 
and to have united and remained with them, 
as the same body of people, or one church, 
and to have received the ordinances from 
them. Some have been so uncharitable, as 
even to charge the Methodists with schism, 
in separating from them. They have also 
objected to the Methodist Episcopacy, as 
being only presbyterial, and, as they say, not 
valid. On this ground, they have rather illi- 
berally, and unkindly, called in question the 
validity of our ordinations, altogether, and 
of the authority of our ministers, to preach 
the word and to administer the holy sacra- 
ments in the church of God. These unkind 
and unfriendly allegations, and, as we con- 
ceive, uncharitable, and unjustifiable cen- 
sures, go directly, if they were correct, to 


% 


208° 


give a fatal wound to the existence of the. 
Methodist Episcopal Churel 
we have some cause to fear was intended by 

them when they levelled their artillery of 

allegations, accusations, and censures against 

us ; but they can never succeed. And, in- 

deed, it strikes directly at the authority of 

the ministry of every denomination to preach 

and administer the sacraments, where they 

have only presbyterial ordination ; for, the 

principle of objection calls in question, or 

denies, the validity of al! presbytery ordina- 

tions : Of course, all, who dissent from pre- - 
latical uninterrupted succession, according 

to this strange doctrine, must be involved in 

the vortex of annihilation, or extirpation, as 

it respects an authorised ministry, and their 

existence as true churches of Christ. 

They call in question, very pointedly, the 
authority of the Reverend Messieurs Wes- 
ley, Creighton, and Coke, to ordain minis- 
ters in the church of God; yet, nevertheless, 
those three divines were all, to say the least, 
regularly ordained, and canonically autho- 
rised Presbyters, of the Episcopal church of 
England. The objectors, dispute the vene~ 
rable Bishop Asbury’s ordination, and en- 
deavour to cut off the whole of the Metho- 
dist ministry, at one stroke, as being an un- 
authorised ministry. In this view of the 
question, the validity of all our ordinations, 


wee 


and, which, ~~ 


209 


the existence of an authorised Mneay | 
among us, and our very existence, as a true 
church of Christ, it struckat. On all those 
points we have maturely deliberated ; we 
have also searched a great variety of good 
authorities, primitive and modern, on the 
questions connected with this subject ; and 
we are prepared with documents, from dif- 
ferent annals, both ecclesiastical, civil, and 
other authorities ; papal, protestant, episco- 
pal, and presbyterial, if necessity, expedience, 
or duty should call us to it, to say considera- 
ble upon this subject. Although this may not 
be the proper time or place to controvert 
those questions ; yet, upon this occasion, I 
can searcely refrain from thinking it a duty 
to make a few mig | remarks, by way of 
brief response. 

As to the question of schism, which sig- 
nifies a separation or division in the church ; 
what church did we divide? Itis admitted, 
that before the revolutionary war, the eth 
dist*sdcieties, were considered as members 
of, and belonging to the church of England; 
and likewise, the episcopalians of the United 
States, were members of, and belonging to 
the same church. But now, neither we, nor 
they, belong to the church of England; we 
are all distinct churches: the church of 
England is one; the .Methodist-Episcopal 
church is® Yee ; and the Protestant- 

s2 


210 


i biecanal church, in the a States, 13 | 
another. Perhaps, then, if there be a schism, 
we both are guilty of it, im separating from 2 
the church of England. For how are we 
guilty, and they not guilty, ‘seeing we both — 
have become distinct churches, from the 
church of England, to which we both for- 
merly belonged? It may be proper to ob~ 
serve on this point, that the Protestant- 
Episcopal church, in the United. States, is 
not considered in*England, by church or 
state, as belonging to the English church ; 
for, a minister, regularly ordained .by a. 
bishop of the Protestant-Episcopal church, 
in the United States, youl not, as I apace 
informed, be admitted to a Benefice, or 
Ectlesiastical living, as a minister of the 
church of England. 

The case of the Rev. Bhomas Vasey, is is. 
somewhat in point.—He was one of the first 
ordained Methodist preachers, and came to 
the United States, with Dr. Coke, and Mr. 
Whatcoat ; in process of time, he got re-- 
ordained by a bishop of the Protestant- 
Episcopal church, in the United States ; and 
some time afterward, he ‘returned to Eng- 
land, and is yet living; but to the best of my 
infarcts ton he has never been acknow- 
ledged, recognized, nor known, as a minis- 
ter of the church of England ; though or~ 
dained, by a bishop of the Protestant-Epis- 


2t1 


éopal church, in the United States ; (and I 
believe, is no farther known there, as a mem 
ber of the church of England, than in his 
standing, as a Meh acher, to this 
day. ] 
of schism, a as applied to us, any more than 
to themselves? Yet, I grant, they stand 
nigher related to the English church than 
we 

I do not apprehend that either of us, 
strictly speaking, are guilty of schism ; but 
is it not an unfriendly term of reproach 
used against us; which, perhaps, with some 
degree of force, might be retorted against 
themselves? On the acknowledgment of 
the Independence of the United States, by 
Great Britain, she not only withdrew from 
us her claim of civil authority, but also her 
ecclesiastical jurisdiction—of course, we 
were as free from her hierarchy, as we were 
from her Monarchy; and were at as full 
liberty to form and regulate our ecclesias- 
tical, as our civil governments: and were 
altogether free to provide for ourselves, 
both in church and state, without infringing 
on the;rights and privileges of any others ; 
and, without incuring the uncharitable and 
unjust imputation ef schism, m the one 
case of the other. In this situation of rights 
and liberty, we all stood in 1783. After 
which, the Methodist-Episcopal church, and 


- | 212 


the Pitestant-Episedia church, in the 
United States, both. o: ized themselves, ' 
and framed their vespactve constitutional 
forms of church governmen ; distinct from 
the church of - England, and distinct from 
each other. 2 
Now, a question arises, which of these 
two churches, the Methodist-Epise 
the Protestant-Episcopal, \ in “tht 
States, first organized, and déueeiled aii. 
selves, a distinct Episcopal church; with 
their own Episcopal superiors, as Superin- 
tendents, or Bishops, at their head? And > 
which of these two churches, as springing 
from, or rising out of the church of Eng- 
land, is the senior, or oldest church? It 
_will probably appear, taking date, from’ the 
times of the ordinations, or consecrations, of. 
their respective Superintendents, or Bis sho Rs 
and of their being constituted and or 
ed, in their respective, distinct, chine Ca- 
pacities, with their Bishops, as their’ ec- 
clesiastical superiors at their head, that the 
Methodist-Episcopal church, will ’be found 
more than two years older than the Pro- 
testant Episcopal church, in the United 
States. If so, how then, coul we be guilty 
of schism, in a separation fr mn them, see~ 
ing, that they, as a distinct, ieee and 
constituted chutelt. are more ‘than tw 0 years 
younger than ourselpee . Nye 


213 


Dr. Coke, clothed with the Episcopal chaz 
racter and authority, under Mr. Wesley’s 
appointment and direction, came from Eng- 
land, with Mr. Whateoat, and Mr. Vasey, 
presbyters, in the latter part of the year 
1784, for the purpose of confermg orders on 
Mr. Asbury and others—And at the Christ- 
mas Conference, in Baltimore, the same 
year, the Methodist Episcopal church, was 
duly constituted and organized, with Dr. 
Coke and Mr, Asbury, both unanimously 
chosen, and regularly constituted, as their 
Superintendents or Bishops; and the confer- 
ence rose early in January, 1785. But it 
will appear from the Journal of the conven- 
tion of the Protestant Episcopal church, that 
they only agreed on “a general ecclesiasti- 
cal Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal 
church,” in October, 1785; in which conven- 
tion, they made “alterations in the liturgy, 
and alterations in the articles” of the church 
of England, and prepared and agreed upon 
a plan for the obtaining consecration of bi- 
shops; and prepared an address to the arch- 
bishops and bishops of the church of Eng- 
land, requesting them to confer the episco- 
pal character on such persons as should be 
chosen, and recommended to them for that 
purpose. This was preparatory.—But it 
appears that Dr. White, was not elected to 
be bishop of the church in Pennsylvania, 


“214 : 

until September, 1786—That fall, Dr: White, 
and Dr. Provost, bishops elect, went to Eng- 
land, for orders; and in December, 1786, they 
were presented, by Mr. Adams, the Ameri- 
can Ambassador, then at London, to the 
archbishop of Canterbury, to be consecrated 
bishops for the Protestant Episcopal church, 
in the United States; but it was not before 
February, 1787, that they were consecrated 
to the Episcopal office, by Dr. Moore, arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, assisted by Dr. Mark- 
ham, archbishop of York, Dr. Moss, bishop 
of Bath and Wells, and Dr. Hinchcliff, bi-, 
shop of Peterborough. This was more than 
two years after the Methodist Episcopal | 
church was fully and regularly organized and | 
constituted, with their superintendents or | 
bishops at their head. Now, is it quite fair 
for us to be charged with the sin of schism, 
from them; nay, how could it be, seeing that 

we were fully and duly formed and consti- 
tuted a distinct church, more than two years 

before them? And if we were peliy of 
schism, in becoming a distinct church from 
the church of England, have they not done 

the same in fact; though in a different man- 

ner, and degree, with the boast of prelatical . 
succession? But, if the uninterrupted suc- 

cession of prelacy, constitutes a true church, 

which is disputed; and, if the’ church of 

Rome has that succession, which they con- 


215 


end for, and which is also disputed, and 
equires proof; then, the church of Rome, 
y their own arguments, is said to be a true 
hurch; now, if every separation from a true 
hurch, constitutes schism; what then, by 
heir own arguments, becomes of the schism 
f the church’of England and every other 
rotestant church, in separating from the 
hurch of Rome? “ Audi alterem partem.” 
As to the validity of our ordination, and 
ur authorised ministry, as a presbyterial 
piscopacy, with full and ample authority to 
reach the word, and to administer the holy 
acraments.—I wall only at this time offer a 
ew brief remarks. In the primitive church, 
he terms, overseers, presbyters, bishops, 
and elders, were indiscriminately appropri- 
ated to the same order of men, and to the 
same men in office, as every scholar and man 
of reading, and candour, ought to know, and 
to acknowledge. 
In the 20th chapter of Acts, at the 17th 
verse, the very same men, who are called 
presbuterous, in the original, are in the 28th: 
verse called episcopous, that is, presbyters, and. 
bishops, literally; translated in our New Tes- 
tament, elders, and overseers. St. Paul, in 
his Epistle to the Philippians, i. chapter and 
1. verse, speaks of the bishops and deacons, 
only two orders; I believe in the epistle of . 
St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, to the same 


216 ri 


r 


_ city, &c he o1 presbuterous: Saint 
Chrysostom, bishop of Cor istantinople, as 
| istle, says, ‘elders, 
that is bishops.” — " “rie 
Archbishop Usher, in his letter to Dr. 

<q se heen i RS 
Bernard, “Ihave ever declared my opinion 
to be, that, episcopus and presb le r. sradu 
tantum, differunt, non ordine, and consequent- 
ly, that in places where bishops earnot be 
had, the ordination of presbyters stands 
valid.”—-The same reverend prelate, in his — 
> Ma? ew * hy 

answer to Baxter—* The king, having asked 


me, at the Isle of Wight, whether I found 


in antiquity, that presbyters alone ordained 
any? repel, yes; and that I could show 
his majesty more, even where presbyters alone 
successively ordained bishops,’—Bishop Bur- 
net said, “ As for the notion of distinct of 
ces of bishops and presbyters, I confess it is 
not so clear to me—Since I look upon the 
blessed sacramental actions, as the highest 
of sacred performances, I cannot but ac- 
knowledge those, who are empowered for 
them, must be of the highest order in the 
church.” ‘Wickliffe is very positive, “ One 
thing I boldly assert, that in the primitive 
church, or in the time of the apostle Paul, 
two orders of clergy What 


* * Se 


ne i a 


217. 


viz. Priests and Deacons; and I do also 
say, that in the time of Paul, fuit idem pres- 
byter atque episcopus, a priest, and a bishop, 
were one and the same; for in those times 
the distinct orders, of pope, cardinals, pa- 
triarchs, archbishors, bishops, archdeacons, 
officials, &c. were not invented.” 

We could produce a volume on this sub- 
ject; but at this time we must be brief— 
Perhaps it is a duty, though with reluctance, 
to say something in our defence; but we 
must let love continue. We respect other 
churches; and is it not equally right for them 
to respect us? Let us mind the things of 
the spirit, and strive together for the faith 
of the gospel. O for more charity! O that 
we might provoke one another to love and 
to good works! 

Stillingileet, in his Irenicum, lets us know 
that archbishop Cranmer, and other eminent 
prelates of the church of England, were of 
opinion, that, in cases of necessity, an ordi- 
nation would be valid, that was performed 
even by laymen, and that such things had 
been done; and that “ bishops and priests 
were, at one time, not two things, but both 
one office, in the beginning of Christ’s reli- 
gion.”—-They went further, and said, not 
only that emperors, and princes, and chris- 
tian people, could, and did, formerly, make 
bishops and priests; but that, “Tn the New 
Testament, he that is appointed to be a bi- 
shop or a priest, eek no consecration by 


ROR Moe wee 


SS 


218 


the Scriptures; for election or appointment 
thereto is sufficient.”—“It is not against 
God’s law, but contrary, they ought indeed 
so to do, and there be histories, and witnes- 
ses, that christian princes, and other laymen 
unconsecrate, have done the same”—It is 
not forbidden by God’s law”—These are a 
part of the answers of Cranmer, and other 
bishops, and divines, of the church of Eng- 
land, to a part of seventeen questions pro- 
posed to them by the select Assembly at 
Windsor Castle, called together by the 
king’s special order, These answers which 
relate to an authorised ministry in cases of 
necessity, the archbishop of Canterbury, the 
archbishop of York, the bishop of Roches- 
ter, the bishop of London, the bishop of | 
Carlisle, &c. &c. of the learned doctors of — 
divinity, “ gave, in their several resolutions, 
in papers, to the questions propounded, with 
their names subscribed. All whose judg- 
ments were accurately summed up, and set 
down by the archbishop of Canterbury him- 
stlf”’—so says Stillingfleet, author of the 
“ Origines Sacre,” who was, after publishing 
this, advanced to be the bishop of Worces- 
ter—and a great deal more, is in his Ireni- 
cum to our purpose. Me ke aN sa 
In the primitive times, the presbyters of 
the apostolic church at Alexandria, used to 
make their own bishops, successively, for 
which fact, we have the testimony of arch- 
bishop Usher, of St. Jerome, and of Euty- 


4 


219 


chius a patriarch of Alexandria, who wrote — 


the annals of that church, an extract of 


which was translated into Latin by Selden,’ 


and appeared at Oxford 1642, the whole-an- 
nals, were published in Arabick and Latin 
by Pocock, in 1659. And other authorities 
prove the same, that presbyters successively 
made their own bishops; and we have no 
evidence, but that their ordinations were as 
valid, and their ministry as fully authorised, 
and as evangelical, as if they had been con- 
secrated by any archbishop or the pope him- 
self. We apprehend that the Methodist 
Episcopal church, may rest confidently satis- 
fied, that their ordination is as good, and 
their ministry as valid, and as evangelically 
authorised, as all the popes, or prelates, in 
the universe could make it. If it were ne- 
cessary, we are prepared to meet the ques- 
tion more fully and at large. We stand 
upon a rock; and, as we believe, a sure foun- 
dation. Turtullian says, Ubi tres, ecclesia 
est, licet laici— Wheresoever three are ga- 
thered together in the name of the Lord, 
there is a church, although there be but the 
laity.” 

I feel disposed to present the reader with 
a few additional remarks and extracts, chief- 
ly from Stillingfleet’s Irenicum. He says, 
“* God, by his own laws, hath given men 
power and liberty to determine the particu- 
lar form of church government among them. 
Hence it may appear, that though one form 


220 


of government be agreeable to Brig iantg it 
doth not follow that another is not; Of be 
cause one is lawful, another is unlawful : 
one form may be more agreeable to some 
parts, places, people, and times, than others 
are. In which case that formof government 
is to be settled which is'most~agreeable to 
the present state of a place, and is most 
advantageously conducive to the promoting 
the ends of church government in that place 
or nation.” And he asserts, that “ any par- 
ticular form of government agreed ‘upon by 
the governors of the church, consonant to 
the general rules of scripture, to be of divine 
right”—because God’s own law allows of 
that right. © “ The reason of church govern- 
ment is immutable in all times and places, 
» which is the preservation of the peace and 
unity of the church; but the particular form 
of that government, the laws of God have 
left to the prudence of particular churches 
to determine. So the same reason of church 
government may call for an equality im the 
persons acting as governors of the church 
in one place; which may call for superiority 
and subordination in another.” Hence we 
find that this distinguished seihianband) -emi- 
nent bishop of the church of England, con- 
sidered, that church government itself alone 
is of divine right; but the form and mode is 
of human institution; because the law of 
God requires government, but authorises 
the churches, respectively, to ae ‘that 


220 


mode or form which discretion and prudence 
may dictate or direct. 

“I confess, said Stillingfleet, the i disci- 
pline of the primitive church hath been 
very. mach misrepresented. to us, by men 
looking upon it through the glass of 
modern practices and customs among us.— 
Whether any shall succeed the apostles in 
superiority of power over presbyters, or all 
remain governing the church in an equality 
of power, is no where determined by the will 
of Christ in scripture ; and so not necessarily 
binding christians’’—He says, “That Christ 
did never intend to institute any one form of 
government in his church—no one form is 
prescribed in scripture; all the standing laws 
respecting church government, are equally 
applicable to several forms.—All the laws 

‘in scripture respecting church government, 
may be referred to three heads. 1. The qua- 
lification of the persons for the office of go- 
vernment ; 2d. Such as require a right ma- 
nagement of their office ; 3. Such as lay down 
rules for the management of their office. 
Now, all these are equally applicable to ei- 
ther of the forms ; and are equally required 
as necessary in a bishop, whether taken for 
one ofa superior order above presbyters, or 
else only for a single presbyter.” 

Speaking of the power of ordination, and 
of jurisdiction &c. he says, “‘ Though it be- 
longs habitually to every presbyter, in actu 
primo; but the limitation and exercise of 


522 


that power doth belong to the ey in com-— 
mon, and is subject to positive restraints, by 
prudential determinations. Though it be- 
long to every presbyter habitually, yet being 
about matters of public: concernment, ‘some 
further authority in a church constituted, is 
necessary beside the power of order. Though, . 
intrinsically, the power 1 remain i in every 
byter, yet the execution of it belo ngs o th 
whoare soappointed. And therefore, Caz 
determines that, ordination doth no 
to the power of order only, but 
of jurisdiction ; and, therefore, sv ) 
sitive restraints by prudential. determina- 
tions. By this we may understand how law- — 
ful the exercise of an episcopal power may! ve 
in the church of God, supposing an equ 
in allchurch officers (bishops and presbyters) 
as to the power of order.” 1 ay 
In vindicating St. Jerome, from a contra- “ 
diction, he replies to those who strove to 
make him contradict himself, “ Jerome, spendsa 
great part of the epistle to prove that a bisho 
and a presbyter, are the same. Isit Baginate 
that a man who had been proving all along the 
superiority of a presbyter, above a deacon, be- 
cause of his identity with a bishop in’ the apos- 
tles’ time, should, at the same time say, that a 
bishop was above a presbyter by the apostles’ in- 
stitution, and so directly overthrow all he had 
been saying before? The plain meaning ‘then 
of Jerome is no more but this, as Aaron and his 
sons in the — of pr a were > above the 


er ieee 


. 223 

Levites, under the law; so the bishops and pres- 
byters, in the order of the Evangelical priest- 
hood, are above the deacons under the gospel. 
The comparison runs not between Aaron and 
his sons under the law, and bishops and presby- 
ters under the gospel; but between Aaron and 
his sons as one part, and the Levites as the 
other ; so under the gospel, bishops and presby- 
ters make one part of the comparison, and the 
other part, under the gospel, is that of deacons 
--The opposition is between the same power 
of order, which is alike in bishops and presby- 
ters, to that of deacons, which stood in compe- 
tition withthem. The scope and drift of Je- 
rome’s epistle, was, to chastise one who made 
deacons superior, (or equal) to presbyters.” He 
elearly proves that the form of church orders 
and: government was not taken up, by the apos- 
tles, from analogy to the temple, but to the syna- 
gogue——and of course the orders of the minis- 
try not from the levitical priesthood, but from 
the elders or presbyters, the rulers in the syna- . 
gogue. 

Speaking of the usage in the synagogues, he 
says, * Before they had restrained themselves 
of their own liberty, then the general rule for 
ordination among them was, every one, who was 
regularly ordained himself, had the power of or- 
daining his disciples, as Maimonides affirms. To 
the same purpose is that testimony of the Ge- 
mara Babylonia, in Mr. Seiden, Rabbi Abba Bar 
Jonah said, that, in times of old, every one was 
wont (accustomed) to ordain his own disciples, 
to which purposes, many instances are there. 
brought. But this course was altered, and they 


fae 2 
were restrained from’ their Sictiier Sibu as 
they say, out of reverence tothe house of Hillel, 
they agreed that none should or others with- 
out the presence of the prince o the Si rity 
or alicence obtained from him for that end-- 
The same distinction may be observed under the 
gospel in reference to the fixed officers « of the 
church ; for we may consider them in their first 
state and period; as the firesbyters 
church in common, as Jerome tells 


the jurisdiction of presbyters was restrained by Bj 


mutual consent, the presbyters enjoyed the same 
liberty that the presbyters ene the Jews did, 
of ordaining other presbyters, by that power 
they were invested in, or with, at their own or- 
dination. In the first primitive church, the 
presbyters all acted in common, for the welfare 
of the church, and either did, or might, ordain | 
others to the same authority with themselves 5 
because the intrinsical power of order is equal- , 


ly in them and in those who were afterwards ap- 


pointed governors over presbyters. And the 
collation of orders doth come from the power of 
order, and not merely from the power of juris- 
diction. It being likewise fully acknowledged 
by the schoolmen, that bishops are not superior 
above presbyters, as to the power of order. The 
clearest evidence of this isin the church of Alex- 
andria, of which Jerome speaks. To which we 
may add what Eutychius, the patriarch of Alex- — 
andria saith in his Origines Ecclesia Alexan- 
drine”’ (or annals of the church of Alexandria, 
to which we before referred) “ published in 
Arabick (and Latin) by the most learned Selden, 


_ (and also by Pocock) who expressly affirms, : that 


‘ 


225 


the twelve firesbyters, constituted by Mark, ufior 
the vacancy of the See, did choose out of their 
nember, one to be head over the rest, and the 
other eleven did lay their hands upon him and 
blessed hint, and made him patriarch,” or bishop. 
Here the presbyters alone made bishops, as 
Usher told king Charles. We see that where 
no positive restraints, from consent and choice} 
for the unity and peace of the church, have re- 
strained men’s liberty, as to their external ex- 
ercise of the power of order or jurisdiction, eve- 
ry one being himself advanced into the authori- 
ty of a church governor, hath an internal power 
of conferring the same upon persons fit for it ; 
and yet have a right so to do, when no ecclesiasti- 
cal jurisdiction restrains that liberty : and such 
ordination is as scriptural and valid as if it had 
come from Canterbury or Rome. 

“* We come tothe second period or state of the 
church, when the former liberty was restrained, 
by some act of the charch itself, for preventing 
the inconveniencies which might follow the too 
common use of the former liberty of ordinations. 
Antonius de Rosellis expresses himself, Every 
firesbyter, and presbyters, did ordain indifferent- 
ly, and thence arose divisions : thence the liberty 
was restrained, and reserved peculiarly to some 
persons who did act in the several presbyteries, 
without whose presence no ordination by the 
church was to be looked upon as regular, (dust 
this was a human firudential regulation.) Beng 
granted that such a restraint was laid upon the 
liberty of presbyters ordaining; the exercise of 
that power may be restrained still, granting it 
to be radically and intrinsically in them ;” or, 

y 


226 


the restraints taken off, the authority, and validi- 
ty of such ordinations, be as good as any in the 
world. “ Those who are for ordinations only 
by a superior order in the church, “ne wledg- 
ing a radical power for ordination in the pres- 
byters, which may be exercised in cases of ne- 
cessity, do thereby make it evident, that none 
who grant that, do think that any positive law of 
God hath forbidden presbyters the | ower of or- 
dination ; for then it must be u 
case of necessity it cannot be valid : which doc- 
trine, says bishop Stillingfleet, I dare ‘with con- 
fidence assert to be a stranger to our church of 
England, as shall be largely made appear after- 
‘wards,’’—Hooker, Grindal, Whitgift, &c. &c. 
and even Bancroft himself, yielded the point, 
that ordinations by aa was valid,in cases 
of necessity. 

“TI believe that upon the strictest enquiry, 
Medina’s judgment will prove true, that Jerome, 

Austin, Ambrose, Sedulius, Primasius, Chrysos- 
tom, Theodoret, Sc. were all of this judgment, 
as to the identity of both name and order of bi- 
shops and presbyters in the primitive church.” 
—5Sullingfleet informs us that Grotixs, im his 
epistle to Bignonius, to prove the undoubted an- 
tiquity of St. Clement’s epistle to the Corinthi- 
ans, brings this as one argument, that there 
was then, no such episcopacy at Corinth, as bi- 
shops superior to presbyters.” 

“ The several presbyters enjoyed an equal 
power among themselves, thereby occasion was 
given to many divisions, partly by the bandying 
of the presbyters one against another, partly by 
the sidings of the people with some against the 


227 


rest, partly by the too common use of the pow- 

er of ordinations, in presbyters, by which they 
were enubled to increase their own party, by 
ordaining those who would join with them ; up- 
on this, the wise and graver sort, considering 
the abuses following the promiscuous use of this 
power of ordination, and for preventing future 
divisions among themselves, agreed to choose. 
one out of their number, who was best qualified, 
and to devolve the exercise of the power of or- 
dination and jurisdiction to him, yet so as that 
he was to act nothing of importance, without 
the consent and concurrence of the presbyters, 
who were the common council of the bishop. — 
This I take to be the true and just account of 
the original of episcopacy, in the primitive 
church, “according to St. Jerome. Which mo- 
dei of government, will be found most agreeable 
to the primitive form, both as asserting the due 
interests of the presbyters, and allowing the due 
hovour of episcopacy, and by the joint harmony 
of both, carrying on the affairs of the church 
with the greatest unity, concord, and peace.— 
Which form of government, I cannot see how 
any possible reason can be produced by either 
party, why they may not with cheerfulness em- 
brace ii—One chosen, not only out of, but by 
the presbyters, to be set above the rest ; for-so 
Jerome must be understood; and the instance 
brought of the church of Alexandria makes it 
evident to be by the presbyters.—I wish all that 
are of his judgment, for the practice of the 
primitive church, were of his temper; and, 

while they own not episcopacy as necessary by 
a divine right, yet, being duly moderated and 


298 


joined with presbytery, they may embrace it, as’ 
mot only a lawful, but very useful constitution 
in the church of God. By which we may see 
what an excellent temper, may be found out, 
most fully consonant to the primitive church, for 
the management of ordinations, and church go- 
vernment, viz. by the presidency of the bishop, 
and concurrence of the presbyters—For episco- 
pacy can never be so well managed for the good 
‘of the church as when it is joined with th ‘/pres- 
bytery”—and we may add, the presbytery. to 
have the superintendency, and jain <b ofa 
moderate episcopacy. 

Turtullian’s judgment, asto church power, he 
says expressly, “All the difference between 
ministers and people comes from the church’s, 

authority”—St. Austin, “The difference be- 
tween Episcopacy and presbytery, rise from the 
custom of the church, attributing a name of 
greater honour to those it had set above the 
others.”—-The so much magnified Jgnatius, 
says, “That the presbyters succeeded in the 
place of the bench of apostles” —Jreneus attri- 
butes the keeping of the apostolic doctrines to 
the succession of presbyters, which before he 
had done to bishops—and more fully afterward 
he not only asserts the succession of presbyters 
to the apostles, but likewise attributes the szc- 
cessio Efiscofiatus, to these very presbyters— 
What strange confusion must this raise in any 
ones mind that seeks for a succession of epis- 
copal power above presbyters, by the testimony 
of Ireneus, when he so plainly attributes both 
the succession, and the episcopacy too, to pres- 
byters? Whence comes the community of 


= eo. eee 3 | ee, 


229 


names, if they are not both the same, that those 
who succeed the apostles are called bishops in 
one place, but presbyters in another, and the 
very succession of episcopacy attributed to pres- 
byters ?—Even Cyprian who pleads so much of 
obedience to the bishops, as they were then 
constituted in the church ; yet speaks often of 
his compresbyteri—It would seem that Ignatius, 
Ireneus, Jerome, and many others agree, and 
may be reconciled to one another; all owning 
the council or college of presbyters as of di- 
vine institution ; also requiring obedience to the 
bishops as a eae institution, and a privilege 

granted to the church for preserving unity in 
the faith, and to prevent divisions. —The bishop 
was nothing but the senior presbyter, or one 
that had a primacy or presidency of order or 
office among them, but no divine right to a pow- 
er of jurisdiction over his fellow presbyters— 
the superiority of bishops over presbyters is to 
be imputed to an act of the church, and not to 
any divine institution. The Testimony of Je- 
rome and others on this is well known—Even 
Isidore bishop of Sevil in Spain, asserts the 
identity of power as well as name, in both bi- 
shops and presbytcrs; only for the greater ho- 
nour of the bishop, and preventing divisions, 
the power of ordination was reserved to the bi- 
shop. Agreeabiy to this was the judgment of 
- the second council of Sevi/, in Sfains who dis- 
avowed the pretence of any divine right to epis- 
copacy, as superior to presbytery. All the di- 
vine right, or apostolical authority, existing in 
the power of episcopacy, equally applies to pres- 
byters as much as to bishops ; but the restrain 


’ 


is OS Ms. Oo 
Boe Si i iis 


ed exercise of that power, which gave rise to . 
the distinction between bichon and presbyters, 
was an act of the church, after the apostles? 
time ; and of course, only a human institution. 
For it is most evident that these two names 
‘were identically and indiscriminately appropri- 
ated to the same order of men, till after’ the 
apostles’ time. 

The “ Methodist presbyterial - Episec y;” 
is nearly that which archbishop Usker proposed 
and recommended to king Charles IL. for the 
national episcopacy of the church of England ; 
and which the king agreed to; but the irrita- 
tion of parties, at that time, ran so high, and 
the proposal of Usher, and the agreement of the 
king, being delayed so long, that the proposition 
was rejected. But it stands as a proof that 
“ Presbyterial Episcopacy,” was recommended 
and considered valid by Usher; as it also was 
by others of the most illustrious prelates of the 
church of England, and the most eminent di- 
vines of the reformation. We are thoroughly 
satisfied on this subject. 

He that doth not learn to distinguish between 
the authority of the church canons, and that of 
scripture, will hardly understand the difference 
between Auman authority and divine right, or be- 
tween Auman and divine institutions. For the 
present we add no more. 


THE END. 


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